St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-05-07

aTOunu- Il OF al luSIdub ds NY oHOul-
der rubbed against the rock, felt that
must fall. l did stagger in fact, but
the next moment stood firm, face to
the beetling cliff, my heels on the very
edge, and the new sensation of the
abyss behind me no less horrible than
that from which l had with such diff
Guilty escaped. | stood quaking. A
deliriOus horror thrilled every nerve.
The skin about my ears and neck,
suddenly cold, shrank cOnvulsively.
"Wild with fear, | thrust forward
my head against the rock aud rested
in agony. A whir and wind of sud
den wings made me conscious of out
ward things again. Then a mad eager
ness to climb swept away other feel
ing, and my hands attempted in vain
to clutch the rock. Not daring to cast
my head backward, drew it tortoise
like between my raised shoulders and
chin against the precipice, and gazed
upward with straining of vision from
under my eyebrows.
Ear above the dead wall stretched.
Sidewise gIances 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 re-
turned the promise of the Almighty
and the consciousness of His regard.
| Once more my muscles became firm
| strung.
ga cautious step sidewise made me
know how much l had gained in ease
and security of motion by the change
of front. | made progress that seemed
almost mid for soma rods and avian
had exultatiOn in my quick approach
to the rope. Hence came freedom Ia
think how | should act on reaching it,
and speculation as to how soon my
comrades would haul me up.
"Then the idea rushed through me
that they might even yet draw it away
too soon, that while almost in my
clutch it might rise from my hands.
! Instantly all the terrOrs of my posi-
ton 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 un-
speakable remOteness, and from the
utmost depth of that sheer air seemed
to ascend steadily IA deadly and IA chill
ing wind. But think | did not stop
for IN 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 crucified,
pressed III mortal terror along.
Every possible accident and delay
was presented to my excited brain.
What if the ledge should narrow sud
denly to nOthing9 Now | believed
that my heels were unsupported in air,
and | moved along on tip-toe. Now
was convinced that the narrow path
way slOped outward, that this slope
had become SO distinct, so increasingly
distinct, that | might at any moment
slip off into the void. But dominating
every consideration of possible dsas-
ter, was still that of the need foI
speed, and distinct amid all other ter
rOrs was that sensation of the dead
wall ever silently and inexOrably
pressing me outward.
"My mouth and throat were 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-n a
deliIium pushed along. Then sud
denly before my staring eyes was il
well-remembered 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-n0 rope. Al.
mighty God and hast thou deserted
me
"But what Yes, it moves it SWAPS
in sight! it disappears to return
again to view! There was the rope
directly at my back, swinging in the
now strong breeze with IL motion that
had carried it away from my first hur-
ried chances. With the relief tears
pressed to my eyes and-face bowed
to the precipice, almost forgetful for a
little time of the hungry air beneath
| offered thanks to my God for the de-
livery that seemed so near"
The old mans lips continued to
move, but no sound came from them.
We waited silent while, with closed
eyes and bent head, he remained alb
soTbed in the recollection of that
strange minute of devOutness.
81 stood there" he said at last, 'for
what now seems a SPACE of hours, per
haps 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 meP |
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 coil above, trailing
over the ground at the top, running
fast as its eud 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 | grasped 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 IL desperate man | prepared to
turn my face once more to the vast
expanse of water and the nothing be-
yond that awful cliff Closing nv
eyes, | writhed, with | know not what
motions, easily around till again my
back pressed against the precipice.
That was a restful sensation. And
now for the decision of my fate
looked at the rope. Not for a moment
could fancy it within my reach Its
swayings were not, rs | had expected,
even slightly inward, but when falling
back against the wind, it swung out
wards as though the air were eddying
from the wall.
"Now at last l gazed down steadily.
Would leap be certain DEATH The
water was of immense depth below.
But what chance of striking it feet or