The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-06-05

stood firm. face to the b--tiing cliff nv
heels on the very edge, and tie new spusa-
ti'sn OF the abyss behind me no less horrible
than that from which hac with such Diff
Guilty escaped l stood quaking. deliri-
Gus horror thrilled every nerve. The skin
about my ears and neck, suddenly cold,
shrank conyuisively.
wild with fear, thrust forward NV head
against the rock and rested in agony
whir and wind of suddeH wings made me
conscious Of outward things again. Tnen a
mad eagerness To climb swept away other
feeling, and my hands attempted in vain to
clutch the rock. N-t daring to cast nv head
backward, l drew 10 tortDise-like between
NY raised shoulders aud chin against the
pTecipice, and gazed upward with straiuiug
of vision from under my eyebrows.
Far above the dead wall stretched. Side
wise glances gave ne gIimpses Of the pro-
jectihg summit coping. There was To hope
in that direction. But the distraction or
scanning the cliff-side had eiver my strain
ed nerves some relief; to my memory again
returned the promiss Of the Almighty and
the CONSCIOUSNESS of His regard. Once
more my muscles became frm-s;ruHg.
A cautious step sidewise made me know
curity OF mutiou by tue change of front. l
mace progress that seemed almost rapid for
some rods, and even had exuitation in my
quick approach to the rope. Hence cauls
Freedom 10 think how l should act on reach.
ing it, aud 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 Gluten it might rise
from my hands. Instantly all the terIors Of
my position returned with tenfOid force an
outward thrust Of the precipice seemed 10
grow distinct, my trembling hands told me
that it moved boldly toward nae, the descent
behind me took an uuspeakaole remOteness,
and from the utmost depth of that sheer air
seemed TO ascend steadily g deadly and a
chilling wind But l think 1 did not stop
for an instant. Iustead deilrium to move
faster possessed me, and with quick, side
long steps-my following foot striking hard
against that befOre-sOmetimes on the point
OF stumbling stretched out ike the cruel
I fed, pressed IN mortal terror along.
| Every possible accident and delay was
! presented to my excited brain. What il the
ledge should narrow suddenly to nothing
/ Now l believed that my heels were unsup-
ported in air, and L moved along on .ip-toe.
! Now @as convinced that the narrow path
way sloped outward, that this slope had be.
1 come so distinct, so increasingly distinct
that might at any moment slip on into the
1 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 were chOked with
dryness, my convulsive lips parched and
arid much l longed to press them against
| the cold moist stone. But never stopped.
Faster, faster-more wildly stepped in q
delrium pushed along. Then suddenly be.
fore my staring eyes was well remembered
edge of mOssy stone. and l knew that the
rope should be directly behind me. Was it
! glanced over my left shoulder Tn
rope was not to be seen Wildly l looked
over the otheI-nO rope Almighty God
and hast Thon deserted me
But what! Yes, it moyes it sways II
sight if disappears-to return again e
view There was the rope directly at my
back, swinging in the now strong breez;
with a motion that had carried 1t away from
my. first hurried glances. With the reei
tears pressed to my eyes aDd-fsce bowed L
the precipice, almost forgetful for littl,
time of the hungry air beneath-I offered
deep thanks to God for the delivery tina
seemed so near
The old mans lips continued to move, bu
no sound came from them. We va ted silen
while, with closed eyes and bent head, b.
remained absorbed in the recollection o. ths
strange minute of devoutness,
i stood there he said at last. for wha
|, now seems a space Of hours, perhaps half
minute in reality Then all the chances still
to be run crowded upon me, T0turn aToun,
had been aa attempt almost desperate be
fore and certainly, most certainly, the ledg'
was no wider where l now stood. Was To
rope within reach? feared not. Would !
! sway toward me? / could hope for that.
But could 1 grasp it should 1 be saved
Would It not Weld TO my haud-comin.
slowly down as l pulled, uDr0iIing fIom {
coil above, trailing over the Eround at th'
top, running fast as its end approached tn
ledge, failing suddenly at last7 Or was !
fastened TO the accustomed stake? Was an!
conrade near who would summon aid at M
signal? If not, and if / grasped it and If
held, how long should l swing In the wins
that now bore the freshness and tremors 0
an imminent gale?
Now again fear took hold on me, aud q
a desperate man l prepared to turn my fac
to tue expsnse of water and nothing beyon'
that awful cliif, Closing my eyes, "rithed
with know not what motions, easily aroun'
till again my back pressed against the preci
pice. T AT was a restful sensation. AnC
now for the decision OF my fate l looked
at the rome Not for moment could 1 fame
it within nv reach Its swayings were not
as I had expected. even slightly inward, bu
when falling back against the wild, it swuni
outward as though the air were eddyinI
from the wall
Now l gszed down steadily. Would I
leap be certain death? The ateT was
immense depth below. But what chance 0
striking it feet or head FIRST? What chane'
of preserving consciousness in the descent
No. the leap would be death; that si ieaS
was clear.
Again turned TO the rope l was nov
perfectly desperate. but steady, nerVed De
yond the best poments of my lie, good 10
an etT,rt surpassing the human. SIN th
rome swayed as before, and its motion wa
, verv regular. l saw that l could touch 1t a
I anv point of its gyration by strong leap.
; But could | grasp it? What use II
, were not firmly secured above? But all IN
, time for hesitation had gone by. knew TO
7 well that strength was mine but for me
srot - tt,a r,avt roactfon of wal