The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-05-28

! tween my raised shoulders ant chin against
the precipice, and gazed upward with
straining Of vision from under my seye-
brows.
''Far 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 firm strung.
"A cautious step sidewise made me know
/ how much / had gained in ease and secur-
! ity of motion by the change of front. I
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 l 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 vet draw it away too
soon; that while almost in my clutch it
might rise from my hands. Instantly all
/ the terrors of my position returned with
/ tenfold force; an outward thrust of the
/ preclplce seemed to grow distinct, my
trembling hands told me that it moved
bodily towards me, the descent behind me
took an unspeakable 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
| crucfied, | pressed in mortal terror along.
Every possible accident and delay was
presented to my excited brain. What if
| toe ledge should narrow suddenly to moth
| ing? Now | believed that my heels were
| unsupported in air. and l moved along on
| tip-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 inexorahly pressing me outward.
my mouth AMI 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-in
a deirium pushed along. Then suddenly
before my staring eyes was a 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
and hast Thou deserted me?
But what, Yes, it moves. it sways in
sight it disappears-to return again 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 precipice, almost forgettul for
liGtle time of the hungry air beneath-l
offered deep 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 absorbed in the recol-
lection of that strange minute of devout-
ness.
~ stood there" he said at last, Hfor
what now seems a space of hours, perhaps
half 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 l
now stood. Was the rope within reach? l
feared not. Would it sway towards me. l
could hope for that.
But could grasp it should 1 be saved?
Would it not yield to my hand-coming
slowly down as l pulled, unrolling from
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 l grasped it,
and if it held, how long should l swing in
the wind that now bore the freshness and
tremors of an imminent gale:
"Now again fear took hold on me, and as
a 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, 1 writhed, with I
know not what motions, easily around till
again my back pressed against the preci-
pice. That was rcst!ul sensation. And
now for the decision % my fate! looked
at the rope. Not for u moment could
fancy it within my r-Ich. Its swayings
were not, as had expected, even slightly
inward, but when failing back against the
wind, it swung outward as though the air
were eddying from the wall.
"Now 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 Mt least was clear.
Again turned to the rope. / was now
perfectly desperate, but steady, nerved be-
yond the best moments of my life, good for
an effort surprising the human. Still the
rope swayed as before, and its motion was
very regular. | saw that could touch il |
at any point of its gyration by a strong
leap.
"But could I grasp it? What use if il
were not firmly secured above? But ali
time for hesitation had gone by. l knew
too we'll that strength was mine but for
moment, and that in the next reaction OF
weakness l should drop from the wall like
a dead fly. Bracing myself, l watched the
rope steadily for one round, and as it re-
turned against the wind, jumped straight
out over the heaving Atlantic.
"By Gods aid I reached, touched |
clutched, held the strong line. And it held
Not absolutely. Once, twice, and again il
gave, gave with jerks that tried my arms. |
I knew these indicated but tightening
Then it held firm and l swung turning in
the air, secure above the waves that beat
below.
.'To slide down and place my feet in the
loop was the instructive work of moment.
Fortunately it was of dimensions to admit
my body barely. l slipped it over my
thighs up to my armpits just as the
dreaded reaction of weakness came. Then
l lost consciousness.
"When | awakened my dear mothers
face was beside my pillow, and she told me
that had been tossing for a fortnight in
brain fever. Many weeks / lay there, and
when | got strong found that had left my
nerve on that awful cliff side. Never since
have been able to look from height OF
see any other human being on one without
shuddering.
$50 now you know the story, Mr.. Frazer,
and have had your last walk on the factory
wall"
He spoke truer than he knew. His story
has given me such horrible Nightmares ever
since TINT could no more walk on the high |
hricSwork than along that narrow ledge in |
dis5an5 Cornwall.-E. W. THOmpsOn's Prize |
Story Ia Youths Companion.
Grass.