The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1891-08-13

i.sw Lyddy erow suddenly pale. 81
seized my band aud tried to draw me
The side Of the rollvsy. Bat the mo
ment We stepped upon the 10y crust v
both fell She plunged hss heels into th
soos end 80 kept berssli and me iror
rolliss to the bottom.
We then heard another ''ttump'As tn
other end OF the big log fell We saw
swing srouod. roll slowly over like gres
animal getting ready to spring. and the
with dull. sodden noiss,it plunged dow
the rollwsy and shot past Us With terri
hc velocity.
II passed so close to as that II swept
bresth OF cool air across our faces.
could have touched it with my outssretch
ed hand. 8e s8
Obi Lyddy breatblessly cried. Thel
che dragged me to my feet; and We step
ped back into the path which vas nov
strewn With Fragments Of bark from thu
log. We looked back and saw that II hat
broken through the ice close 10 the rivel
bank. and that II rose and fell In the swift
moving current underneath
Thought I the danger was over. W.
we're about half way up the slope, aud
Lyddy hurried me dirsc.lytowsrd the pile
OF logs. for there was no other way owing,
as have stated, to the slipperyness OF the
crust at the sides.
Glancing at the pile Of lumber. notic'
cd thst q stake st its base was bent foi'
ward almost horizontally, This stake had
been driven there to partially support the
logs at the bottom OF the pile AS look
ed saw the stake move.
That was not al. We heard another
",hump" as second log rolled from its
position on the pile
l looked AZ Lyddy. who had suddenly
halted and was holding me back. In her
face read whs, was about to happen, and
the cause.
The snow and ice melting away ct the
base OF the pile had caused IL to settle. and
o. the logs were hesped higher aud higher
during the winter. the movement, ever so
slight, OF the foundation, had disturbed
the equilibrium Of the entire mass.
A comprehension Of the dreadful danger
and its cause came to me 10 fash OF con
sciousness.
II left to myself. would probably
have tried to scramble TO the side OF the
rollway. would have failed and rolled
down to the river.
As il was. l trusted wholly to my com.
psnion. She vas SO clever at contriving
,ther things. that l felt that she would
'hink OF some way out Of our present diff'
Guilty.
She had. up to this moment. clung to
The rope by which she was drawing up
he sled. Now she let go, and the. sled
,lided backward down the slope. At the
anne time. she turned TO me and said:l
Come, quick! Don't fall-but you muss
mol
l obeyed. digging my small heels into
be softeuing crust, and clinging to Lyd'
|y's hand, Without . though thatll wss
,urden to her. do not think she thought
1 il. She wanted TO save me from being
rushed under the logs. which she knew
ere coming down. aud she bad conceived
1 . plan OF doing it II she could only get
40 over the ground quickly enough.
Our haste was accelerated by another
minous "thump" from the pile of logs.
We had jnst reached tho place where,
Nv moments before, We had dumped
brough the snow betaixt the timbers. Be-
,re had time to think Whist she meant 10
o. she thrust me forward and | fell into
be cavity. She sprsng in after me.
Lie down, close Is you can she BREATH
.ssly cried.
obeyed. and felt the ice'cold water
ith which the SNOW was sosked strike
trough my clothing and trickle down my
eek. l did not like to lie down fat in the
bid slush. but Lyddy forced me into il
ID held me there. She crouched over me
er face partly upturned. aud her long.
parse hair trailing across my face.
None TO soon. The log came thunden
~ down. and caught glimpse Of II ss
bounced over US. The moment IL bad
.ssrd | attempted 10 rise,
No, YET, dear. said my mpsuioD; and
le pressed down more closely.
The log las gone over, | returned.
Yes, but the others are coming-sll OF
eu. 1 think. Then We will have TO look
II. SO lie close ~ you can. dear, for {
ere ism qaite room enough .for me.
Her voice shook She tried TO work her
II down by my eide. under the tim bers. 1
at the space Wal too narrow, snd htt
eight pressed 20 heavily upon me that I
led out.
IL can hardly breathe! ! sssped. And
scbipg up her band. she grssped the tim
u and 40 partially supported her weight
thst she would not press upon me 20 I
,svily.
There vas theo . brief period OF sus ,
.nse, which must have been much harder
= Lyddy. Who resliz d our peril. 10 bear /
ian 1t vs for me. 4,
We heard . thnup. tbump. % undips
III and disisDl TheD moment OF ell
zee, during which ve could hear each
ber bres,hing. Tbep heavy rumble.
,o,bef pause. followed by tbundsrous {
und thai shook The ground under rs.
Toe log, we're coming down. hundreds I
them, bouncing impstpously over each. J
her. gaining momsntum. at every leap {
noisy stsupsde. like herd Of {