Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1883-08-10

! NlHN" AN"NHHi NtIN AthNAANN NNIAt'N HNl
attempt 10 raise me from my dreadin
position. | was young, and life wa
very sweet 10 met but iell that my las
moment Was al hand Another secon,
or Two must end the matter 10 severe I
strain could no longer be enduredi oul
hands must loosen their holdi aud
must inevitably be- dashed 10 pieces on
the broken rocks | had observed At th,
foot of the preolplce,
There was an Instant Of hroathless 81
lence, during which time ms uncle had
clearly realized the critical nature Of the
situation, and decided ON plan Of ao
ton. llo looked over, and saw thai
just below the spot whore | was sus-
pended there was q rugged projection
ot rock, extending fully SIX feet beyond
the perpendicular ot the point whore
hung. II fell on this my fate wa.
sealed no power could save me from
death, Beyond this rock was water.
possibly OF depth sufficient 10 break
the force Of n fall, II only that water
could be reached; but IN this lay all tht
difficulty My uncle was good As well
as brave man; he loved me as the son
of dead sister, and he was willing 10
dare everything TO save me; but he did
not underyalue the nature of the awful
risk he was undertaking ON my behalf,
and he knew that he was going to take
his own life In his hands rs well rs mine.
Breathing prayer for Divine protec-
ton, he said quietly but firmly "fomi
there is but one way for IT, I'll save
YOU, or we will both perish together
When say the word, lake your hand
from the rock Nowln
As my uncle loudly said "NowM |
relaxed my hold Of the rock, and at the
same instant my uncle made an inn
mense effort and sprang horizontally
into the air, carrying me with him and
retaining his hold Of my hand as we
rushed violently down, turning over in
our headlong descent. can not pre-
tend TO say that ever very distinctly
recollectod my sensations during those
awful seconds, for Il was nothing more.
| had my senses pretty clearly while !
hung from the rock, and | can recall
the gasping feeling which | experienced
as took my hand away; but beyond
that all is chaos So great was the
force with which my uncle leaped, that
he completely cleared the projecting
ledge, and we fell into the sea, which
was deep enough to break our fall,
though the violence of the shock un-
loosed our grasp Of each other. Hall
stunned as we were, the cold water
probably acted as n restorative. We
we're both excellent swimmers, and
moment or two later we were breasting
the waves, fortunately not too bolster
Gus for our sorely tried strength. We
rose about twenty yards apart, at some
little distance from the rocky ledge,
and rather nearer a nattish rock which
reared It's head from the pillows For
this shelter we made; and too deep for
u,terance were the feelings with which
we took each others hands and gazed
into each others eyes,
"Thank Godl my boy at last said
my uncle, fcrvently.
~ do, uncle; and you. too. Where
should have been now, but for your
"Hushl Tom Thank God, we're
both safe. 1t was an ugly jump, no
doubt Of that
We both shuddered as we gazed on
the precipice frowning above us, on the
top of which we could see our two so
recently horror-stricken friends, wildly
waving their hats in transport of JOY
at their discovery of us on the rock APP
parently safe and sound.
A hearty cheer in reply assured them
Of our perfect safety; and then my uncle |
shouted TO them some directions as to
the course they were to pursue In en-
deavoring to procure assistance for our
rescue. Owing to the width Of ledge
broken off where fell, their return by |
The same route was impossible; and o
long and perilous walk had to be under
taken before they were themselves in
security, when they Immediately sought
out means of dcliyerance for my uncle
and myself.
But in the meantime better luck had
Defallen us, The noise made by our
had attracted the notice of a
fisherman who lived IN little cottage
under the cliffs, at place where the
shore receded, and left bare tiny
creek where a small boat was moored
He had clambered over the crag that
nd us from his sight; and as soon as he
'pied the two figures standing on the
solitary rock our situation became ap-
parent to him, and he lost no time in
aunching his boat and coming to our
assistance. Truly thankful we were for
he timely aid. We were both soaked
o the skin and shivering with cold, and
he rock was far too small for any al.
cmpt at exercise. A very short time
iaw us IN the cozy interior of the fisher
mans cottage, where bright little fire
vas burning, very welcome to us in our
'hilled condition; while his kindly
wife busted herself in Preparations
or our comfort, and ransacked
ler humble stores for supply
II dry garments, also highly acceptable.
Little remains to be told When we
we're quite rested and refreshed. and our
lothes were dry enough TO DO worn,
he fisherman conducted us to the top
# the cliffs by circuitous little path,
which in some places unpleasantly re-
alled our recent experiences. We
cached the summit in safety, however,
nd made the best of our way to lhe
where we Ind left our CON
eyance, Tho fisherman undertook TO
pprlse our friends of our whereabouts;
hey having procured n boat at the
evenue station, and come rpund the
oast in her, to point out to her crew
he exact spot of our confinement.
Having literally rewarded those who
ad so willingly assisted us in our ex.
remity, we returned home. our bodle.
atigued by the varied cxerilohs ard ek. /
Elements of the day. our minds pene- :
rated with lasting gratitude towards
he Almighty Being who had brought ,
s through so many perils. and had I
lercifully preserved us from thu laws
I a sudden and terrible destruction. -
hamberS SoHfaaa
Very Old Tracks.