Morris tribune., 1886-11-24

savage beast only to die more ter
ribly by starvation, or to be dashed
to pieces in rocky chasm?
Nature had never seemed to me 81
pitiless. i. ...a
The stony walls looked down at M
in awful silence. The yawning preci
pice at my feet seemed waiting with
sickening expectancy. :,
Before this l had been afraid tt
speak aloud, for fear of rousing som'
wild animal; but now | felt that
should be glad to see or hear anythn!
with life, even if it were savage.
shouted myself hoarse, but only
strange echoes answered me from the
frowning woods. e>
The shadows grew deeper. Imustdc
something-anything.
1t occurred to me to make q rope o.
some of my clothing, and thus de-
scend: 1t was the work OF but q mo
ment, to take off my long stockings
and tie them together, and then to
add my scarf. All this made only
four or five yards in length. | tore
the skirt of my stout waterproof suit
into strips; which tied together, TN
til | had what seemed enough. Then,
fastening stone to one end, | crept
to the edge and let the rope down to
measure the distance: 1t still lacked
q little. The deficiency was soon sup
piled from the sleeves Of my Jacket.
The root of pine afforded a conven-
lent place for attaching the rope; and,
having first tested every foot OF 1T, to
make sure that it would bear my
weight, l was ready to swing off.
Several times | looked over. and my
head grew dizzy. l decided to 60
backward, to obviate that difficulty.
Fearing my shoes would be hinder
ance in my clinging to. the repe, ]
pushed them over, together with my
cartridge belt. Another instant Of
hesitation and heart-sinking, and
was fairly Off
/ reached the bottom sore and
breathless, but safe. Another trial
awaited me. In the gathering gloom
could not find my shoes, and the
sha1p stones cut my tender feet at
every step. Moreover, dreaded rat
tlesnakes, and listened with painful
acuteness for the warningrattle. Ibid
not hear anything, and soon lost that
fear in my overpowering anxiety to
reach some human habitation.
1t grew dark so rapidly that I had
to use my stick at every step, as a
blind man does, to feel the way be-
fore me. Before l had groped along
many rods my guide gave me timely
warning OF q chasm. Feeling for d
stone, / hurled it forward and heard
it strike far down below ino.
could 60 no tarther-at least until
daylight-sO, drawing back few feet,
| sat down to wait. was so weary
that Immediately fell asleep. I+was
awakened by q rlfe-shot, followed
quickly by a second report, but they
sounded a long way off.
started up and tried to shout an
answer, but my overstrained throat
could make no noise except a hoarse
croaking, like a child with Group.
was sure the shots came from my
friends, searching for me.
In the pocket of my jacket were
some matches that l had not before
1t was not moment
before [ had scraped some leaves to-
gether and set fire to them. A num-
Der OF cones had fallen from the pines
above, and there was q mass OF dry
so that l had no lack OF
;uel
By the blaze l could see the nature
Of the place around me. was stand
1o+ I,>
rom which had descended. On one
side was the sheer WALL on the other
he precipice. l was hemmed in by
prison walls.
| heaped on branches till the flames
AN high and made a roaring sound. !
The whole canon was Illuminated, and |
he tall pines shook like spectres in
he fantastic light. | stretched my
lands toward the genial warmth, and |
cit that salvation was near, for my
rlends must now see the light.
a cracking noise at little distance
rev my attention. Chaparral, cones, !
he pines themselves, were ablaze. I |
lad set the canon on fire. Dismay
ucceeded my short-lived gleam OF !
lope. In front was the chasm, be-
ind the fire. | was two rods from
he ledge, and the flames swept to-
ward me. Imoved forward.
This sudden and awful danger gave
ne voice. I c1eamed wildly as the
ire reached out long, adder-like ton
ues for me.
Avoice above shouted to me.
"Quick, quickP' l cried, cor it's too
ate!"
The fire had driven me so near the
dge that a step would have hurled
he over. l felt the terrible calm that
ONES to one when hope is dead.
saw two snakes leap upward in the
laze and writhe about each other in
gony.
"Catch this, and tie it under your
rms" shouted q voice, and q rope
ii at my feet. -
l was saved; but never since have l
ared for hunting. l was cured by the
ying look of the white deer.