Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-05-09

get gown nce.nnt at full length, Gluten oy your
ionsed to lie down and hold, but Of course that
was impossible"
"sti!l, there was = wall at your back" OBJ
That made it worse. The elin seemed to
press outward against me. It did, In fact In
| thrusting me of. Oh, the horror Of that ssnsa-
ton! Your toes on the edge Of preeipics, and
Weighing you slowly forward"
Beads OF sweat broke out over bis white face
At the horror he had called before him. Wiping
his lips nervously with the back Of his hand
and looking askant, as at the narrow pathway,
he paused long. saw its cruel edge and the
aIkneW he H r es that With my back to
not face toward it and step forward, SO narrow
siSle that way, but the breadth Of my shoulders
would have forced me to lean somewhat more
do. Also, to see a solid surface before me be-
came an irresistible desire. resolved to try to
turn round before resnming the desperate jour
ney. To 90 this had to nerve myself for one
steady look at my footing.
In the depth below the myriad sea-fowl then
ing more with the rising wind. had vet an un.
broken surface at some little distance from the
precipice, while further out 1t had begun to
l could not see, 1t dashed and churned with u
faint, pervading roar that could barely dis
tinguish. Before the descending sun heavy
bank of cloud had arisen. The oceans surface
bore that appearance of intense and angry
gloom that often heralds storm, but, save the
aeep ny tn Song out from far below my
Cautiously swung my right foot before the
other and carefully edged around. For an in
felt that must fall did stagger. in fact, but
the next moment stood firm, face to the beet
ling cliff, my heels on the very, edge, and the
new sensation of the abyss behind me no less
horrible than that from which had with such
difficulty escaped: l stood quaking. A deiri-
Gus horror thrilled every nerve. The skin
about X. suddenly
convulsivey.
'Wid with fear, thrust forward my head
against the rock and rested in agony. A whir
and wind of sudden wings made me conscious
OF outward things again. Then Il mad eager
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 up
ward with straining of vision from under my
eyebrows.
Far above the dead wall stretched. Sidewise
gances gave me gltmpSes OF the projecting
summit coping. There was no hope In that
direction. But the distraction of scanning the
cllti-Side had given my strai ned nerves some
relief; to my memory again returned the
promise of the Almighty and the consciousness
OF His regard. Once more my muscles became
nrm-strung.
"a cautious step sidewse made me know how
much had gained in ease and security of mo-
ton by the change Of front. Imade progress
even had eXultatiOn in my quick approach to
the rope. Hence came freedom 10 think how
IL,
how soon my comrades would haul me up.
Then the idea rushed through me that they
might even yet draw 1T away too soon; that
while almost in my clutch it might rise from
may hands. Instantly all the terrors of my
position returned with ten-fold force; an out
ward thrust of the precipice seemed to grow
distinct, my trembling hands told me that it
moved bodily toward me, the descent behind
me took an unspeaSable remoteness, and from
ascend steadily deadly and a chilling wind.
But think did not stop for an instant. In
stead a dellrium to move faster possessed me,
ana with quick, sidelong steps-my following
foot striking hard against that before-some-
times on the point of stumbling, stretched out
like the crucited, pressed In mortal terror
along.
every possible accident and delay was pre-
sented to my excited brain. What If the ledge
believed that my heels were unsupported in
air, and moved along on tip-toe. Now | was
convinced that the narrow pathway sloped out
ward, that this slope had become so distinct so
increasingly distinct, that l might at any mo-
ment 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
"My mouth and throat were choked with
dryness, my convulsive lips parched and arid;
much longed to press them against the cold,
taster-more wildly stepped-in a delirium /
pushed along. Then suddenly before my star
ing eyes was well-remembered edge of messy
stone, and l knew that the rope should be
directly behind me. Was 1t?
Il glanced over my left shoulder, The rope
other-no rope! Almighty God! and hast Thou
deserted me?
!" But what. Yes, it moves. it sways in sight,
IL dlsappears-to return again to view! There
was the rope directly at my back, swinging in
the now strong breeze with q motion that had
carried 1t away from NY first hurried glances.
with the relief tears pressed to my eyes, and
face bowed to the precipice. almost forgetful for
a little time of the hungry air beneathSI offered
deep thanks to my God for the delivery that
The old mans lips continued to move but no
SOUND came from them. We waited silent
manned absorbed in the recollection of that
strange minute of devoutness
~ stood there" he said at last, "ter what now
seems space or hours, perhaps half a minute
In reality. Then all the chances still to be run
crowded upon me- To turn around had been
tainly, most certainly, the ledge was no wider
where now stood. Was the rope within reach?
ed ,ea5e Son not for Mould 1t sway toward NEE
But could grasp 1t should be saved? Would
1t not yield to my. hand-com1ng slowly down
over the ground at the TOP, running fs.t az its
last? Or was it fastened to the accustomed
summon aid at my signal? If not ana If
grasped IT, and II 1t held, how long should
and tremOrs OF an imminent gale?
NOW again fear took hold on me, and as a
desperate man prepared to turn my face once
more TO the vast expanse of water and nothing
beyond that awful cliff. Closing my eyes, I
writhed, with know not what motions, easily
around till again my back pressed against the
precipice. That was restful sensation, And
now for the decision Of my fate! looked at the
rope. Not for moment could fancy it within
my reach! Its swayings were not, as had ex-
pected, even slightly inward, but when falling
back against the wind, it swung outward as
though the air were eddying from the wall.
Now gazed down steadily. Would leap
be certain death? The water was of immense
depth below. But what chance of striking 1t
feet or head first? What chance of preserving
consciousness in the descent? No, the leap
would be death; that at least was clear.
"Again l turned to the rope. was now per.
fectly desperate, but steady, nerved beyond the
best moments of my life, good for an effort sur
passing the human. Still the rope swayed as
before, and Its motion was very regular. saw
that could touch 1t at any point of its gyration
by O strong leap.
But could grasp it? What use If it were
not firmly secured above? But all time for hes
1tation had gone by. 1 knew too well that
strength was mine but for moment, and that
from the wall like q dead fly. Bracing myself.
watched the rope steadily for one round and
az IL returned against the wind, jumped straight
out over the heaving Atlantic.
=, %By Gods aid | reached, touched, clutched,
lutely. Once, twice and again it gave gave
with jerks that tried my arms. knew these
indicated but tightening. Then 1t held firm
ana swung turning In the air, secure above
'TO slide down and place NV feet in tha
loop was the instructive work OF a moment.
Fortunately 1t was Of dimensions to ad NIT INV
body barely. slipped it over my thighs up to
weakness came. Then lost consciousness.
When l awakened my dear mothers face was
beside my pillow, ana she told me that had