The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1889-06-29

self as perpendicular as circumstances per-
mitted; at tire same time graspng the up
per one with all my force. in case he cut the
lower one.
| was within a yard of the rock when |
felt the rope under my foot jerk as van
Hoeck cut through the first strands; the
next instant 1t went altogether. and was
left swinging by my hands to the upper rope
over the chasm.
"Diel cursed dog, dieF shouted van
Hoeek with the frantic excitement OF
man achieving at last the object OF MS NE,
as he attacked the upper rope with his
knife. Die. and know that all YOU cherish
in the world shall b. mine-wedlth, ana the
woman you love. Diol"
And with that h., severed the last strant
and | swept down through space. Ciingins
with desperate energy TO the rope IN my
hands. l swung. cramping myself togethet
in anticipation OF a violent shoek against
the side Of the precipice. Happily the rock
above projected a little. so that the blow
was less aevere than l expected. L re-
bounded. and swung to and FRO IKE pehuu-
ium in the pitchy darkness. For, IN ordef
to get Il firner grasp upon the rope Wheh !
saw his intention OF cutting it. / hal dropped
the torch which fell like the spark OF
rocket into the depths below
What was | to do? | dared not try to pun
myself hand over hand up the wet rop =, Tor
the slightest relaxation of my hold might
allow the rope to slip, and should Do lost
Dear. are you there still?" Lola called
from above.
Yes" | replied.
Here is the rope-when call. you can
( trust Yourself TO It,"
Atthe same time felt the knotted rope
dangling against my shoulders.
Now" she cal,ed.
Il WAS not in Instant too soon. | felt the
wet rope Slipping Though my hands.
Leaving go with one hand, / clutched out
wildly for the knotted rope, and by the hap
piest chance succeeded in seZtng II.
got a cross piece between my feet. and
/ was comparatively safe. II Lola had
strength to hold on for a few moments. But
that might not tax her too greatly, still
grasped the wet rope.
Saved" called out to her.
Not for long" shouted Van Hoeck.
snap of the spring rs he closed the breech-
loader and then the click" as he cooked
the piece.
would he shoot me or the girl?" asked
! myself in that moment.
He fired, and the ringing shot was fol-
| lowed by sharp cry of pain from above,
and the cross piece on which stood gave
/ a little jerk, but no moro. She must have
escaped. despite that cry, or she could not
! still have held on to the rope.
through my mind in those brief moments
We're, they were banished from my mind by
a yet more terrific appeal to my senses.
Following almost Immediately upon the
crack of the rifle and Lola's cry, IA mass oil
rock, probably disintegrated by the frost,
and started from its place by the rcverbera-
ton of the shot, slid down the face OF the
precipice, hurtled against rock, and some
moments after fell with deep pong into
| the water below.
h. 10 l., ~ nf
The fabric that upheld the mighty weight of
| the enormous rock, that covered the chasm.
| its fall Was followed by the crumblng away
| and precipitation of others at intervals rap
| idly decreasing. their fall eventually becom-
| ing continued downpour, marked now and
| then by Il louder crash as some larger
| block gave way.
| The roar of artillery, the peal of thunder.
was not to be compared TO the awful din "a
the great rock Jerkel downward, as the
quartz splintered and gave way under it,
| SCATTERING and grinding the opposing
rocks, and bursting away huge fragments
! that struck from side to side as they
| hurtled down. tearing and splitting the very
| heart Of the mountain as it seemed.
! The fail was most violent az some distance
| away from US further down the ravine; only
an occasional block, ground under the great
mass as it jerked down, was shattered to
! pieces, and fell in dust and rubble about US.
But our turn was at hand.
1t seemed to me as if the last day had
come. and the world was crumbling to
| pieces. To the terror of an earthquake was
added the horror of impenetrable darkness,
! and the consciousness that the gigantic
| rock that vaulted the abyss was slowly
/ Jerking down upon US. | must have kept
my hold upon the rock by instinct; had no
| consciousness of Yolition.
The awful eruption had continued for
some moments-scarcely so long as one
might take TO read this description-with
| increasing intensity, when suddenly, with
| an appalling crash, the great roof tilted up.
saw the earth slowly cape open above me.
| letting in the binding sunlight. and then
the upper lip of jagged rock. reaching its
hi hest elevation, shot sidelong away, max
ing visible the long strip of blue heaven
| between the towering peaks of the moan
tain.
One last pong" as the rock wedged itself
afresh lower down the precipi.e, and then
all was still. The sight of the blue sky, the
sense of relief, was too much for me. /
| trcmbled violently, and for Il moment
| thought must relinquish my hold. But II
| pitcOuS cry from Lola nerved me to fresh
| effort.
] saw now the two cut ropes, AMI, grasp
ing one in each hand, | drew myself up.
using the knotted rope as slightly as |
could, and 50 presently | scrambled upon
the ledge.
Lola was lying upon the ground drawn
against the rock round which she had
passed the knotted cord. The ball had
struck her and she had fallen. but the de-
voted girl had PASSED the moose round her
body. and so saved my life for the second
time. l knelt beside her. and raised her
head She opened her beautiful eyes. aud
smiled. as she took my hand. She could do
no more,