The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-05-30

became an irresistible desire. | resolvAd
to try to turn round before resuming the
desperate journey. To do this | bsd AZ
nerve myself for one steady look at INV
footing. iv
''ln the depth below the myriad sea fo,,11l
then rested on the black water yvhtoIf
though swelling more with the rising viii
had yet an untroken surface at soma littIg
distance from the precipice, while fartbar
out it had begun to jump to white-c,ns
and in beneath me, where could NOT se
it dashed and churned with a faint nsrH
vading roar that could barely distin 91ish
Before the descending sun q heavy benk ~
cloud had risen. The oceans surface hoUa
that appearance of intense and angry
gloom that often heralds a storm, but. seva
the deep murmur going out from far below
my perch, al to my hearing was deadly
still.
"Cautiously | swung my right foot he.
fore the other carefully edged around. For
an instant as my shoulder rubbed apeinst
the rock, | felt that l must fall. diJ
stagger, in fact, but the next moment stood
firm, face to the beetling cliff, my heels on
the very edge, and the new sensation az
the abyss behind me no less horrible thar
that from which | had with such dif1culkv
escaped. | stood quaking. A delirious
horro1thrilled every nerve. The skin abont
my ears and neck, suddenly cold, shrank
convulsiveiy.
''Wild with fear, | thrust forward INV
head against the rock and rested in agony
A whir and wind Of sudden wings made me
conscious of outward things again. Then
mad eagerness to climb swept away other
feeling, and my hands attempted in vain to
clutch the rock. Not daring to cast nv
head backward I drew it tortoise like be-
tween my raised shoulders and chin against
! the precipice, and gazed upward with
| straining of vision from under nv yeye-
| brOws.
ear above the dead wall stretched.
Sidewise glances gave me glimpses OF the
| projecting summit coping. There was no
| hope in that direction. But the distraction
of scanning the cliff-side had given my
strained nerves some relief; to my memory
again returned the promise of the Almighty
! and the consciousness of His regard. Once
more my muscles became rm-strung.
"a cautious step sidewise made me know
how much [ had gained in ease and secur-
! ity of motion by the change of front.
made progress that seemed almost rapid
! for some rods, and even had exultation in
| my quick approach to the rope. Hence
came freedom to think how | should act on
reaching it, and speculation as to how soon
my comrades would haul me up.
''Then the ides rushed through mo that
they might even yet draw it away too
soon; that while almost in my clutch it
| might rise from nv hands. Instantly all
| the terrors of my position returned with
! tenfOld force; an outward thrust of the
! precipice seemed to grow distinct, my
trembling hands told me that it moved
| bodily towards me, the descent behind me
| took an unspeakabe remoteness, and from
the utmost depth of that sheer air seemed
to ascend steadily deadly and a chilling
wind. But think | did not stop for an
| instant. Instead, delirium to move faster
! possessed me. and with quick, sidelong
| steps-my following foot striking hard
| against that before-sometimes on the
! point of stumbling, stretched out like the
crucitied, pressed in mortal terror along.
Every possible accident and delay was
| presented to my excited brain. What if
the ledge should narrow suddenly to moth
ing? Now | believed that my heels were
unsupported in air, and [ moved along on
| tlp-tOe. Now | was convinced that the
narrow pathway slOped outward, that this
| slope had become so distinct, so increas-
ingly distinct, that | might at any moment
slip off into the void. But dominating
every consideration of possible disaster,
was still that of the need for speed, and
distinct amid all other terrors was that
sensation Of the dead wall ever silently
and inexorably pressing me outward.
"My mouth and throat we're choked with
dryness, my Convulsive lips parched and
arid; much longed to press them against
the cold, moist stone. But never stopped.
Faster, faster-more wildly [ stepped-in
delirium pushed along. Then suddenly
before my staring eyes was well-remem-
bered edge of messy stone, and knew that
the rope should be directly behind me.
Was it?
81 glanced over my left shoulder. The
rope was not to be seen! Wildly looked
over the Other-no rope. Almighty God
and hast Thou deserted me2
But what! Yes, it moves it sways in
sight. 1t disappears-to return agnin to
view. There was the rope directly at my
back, swinging in the now strong breeze
with motion that had carried it away
from my first hurried glances. With the
relief tears pressed to my eyes and-face
bowed to the precipicey almost forgetful for
little time of the hungry air beneath--I
offered deep thanks to my God for the de-
livery that seemed 50 near"
The old mans lips continued to move,
butno sound came from them. We waited
silent while, with closed eyes and bent
head, he remained absorbed in the recol-
lection of that strange minute of devout-
ness.
II stood there" he said at last, "for
what now seems a space of hours, perhaps
half a minute in reality. Then all the
chances still to be run crowded upon me.
To turn around had been an ATTEMPT almost
desperate before, and certainly, most
certainly, the ledge was no wider where
now stood. Was the rope within reach? [
feared not. Would it sway towards me? l
could hope for that.
But could grasp it should | be saved?
Would it not yield to my hand-coming
slowly down as | pulled, unrolling from q
coil above, trailing over the ground at the
top. running fast as its end approached the
edge, falling suddenly at last? Or was it
fastened to the accustomed stake? Was
any comrade near who would summon aid
at my signal? If not, and if grnsped it.,
and if it held, how long should | swing in
the wind that now bore the freshness and
tremors of an imminent gale?
"Now again fear took hold on me, and as
desperate man l prepared to turn my
face once more to the vast expanse Of
water and the nothing beyond that awful
cliff. Closing my eyes, l writhed, with l
know not what motions, easily around till
again my back pressed against the preci-
pice. That was a rcstful sensation. And
now for the decision of my fate! I looked
at the rope. Not for moment could |
fancy it within my reach! Its swayings
were not, as | had expected, even slightly
inward, but when falling back against the
wind, it swung outward as though the air
were eddying from the wall.
snow at last l gazed down steadily.
Would a leap be certain death? The water
was of immense depth below. But what
chance of striking it feet or head first?
What chance of preserving consciousness
in the descent? No, the leap would be
death; that at least was clear.
again | turned to the rope. | was now
perfectly desperate, but steady, nerved be-
You'd the best moments of my life, good for