New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-05-10

Soon Pete Rowers again peered down az le "n ra
said They have got long ropV and will then
coinG to tie one end of il 20 tree, anu "i ui. -.
gole 70 oe on IN rho other end and let 1t down 10
YOU Hold on q little longer anu ~ 7 am well
can hold on MONTH hs stiu what il the good
enough fixed for holding on. nut wIa' ~ uie Won
~ INV holding on if the tree gives way lou
,5Iin,S seem ~ think all depends npon me ana my
holding on. This tree is giving way al 'n'
PETE withdrew to impart this information.
L. seemed an hour before he again crawled to the
brink for he came by cawhng on nus pc ~,
afraid to come square over you TO drop it. I'm
afraid 70 90 near the roots of the tree. The ground
there is all cracked and loose. A. .,.,p o-ied
l. Then. Can't you throw the rope 50 thai tlie
loon will pass beyond the trunk, and slide along
down 10 me as it Stacks IN drawing Dach oo;n
Pete threw the rope, but it fell short Again aga
and eSain he tried Once ii came near me ana
reached out and cutched at it. AS dld SO cIods
W. 9Th SeI and ratified down through the branches
of the tree that rested against the wall. s.oo+ho
| cutched the tree. afraid to wink or Dr WSe
for some moments. Then | said to Pete n%o
is the matter of you ?-why can't you Ming 'he
rope / told your
!" / can't throw so hard"
III do my heels will fly up and I'll go head
first into the canonl" s.uou
what! With larat around you and dozen
Only four. and they'll let go and run if they
see me 60 over. They say we've lost 700 many
men already to-day to take any more chances Gov
"Oh yes. see" said L. again beginning 10 lor-
get that | was not on terra hrma r
thought moment and then said len the
men to cut long, slender pole sharpen the upper
end of il then twist the strands Of the rope at be
| moose backward and thrust in between them IIe
point of the pole; then you can pass ,ne "0o''
down into my bands, DO you undersia li.L a,or
| Yes Pll have it fixed" and Pete withdrew
In about ten minutes-it seemed to me as many
hours-Pete was back with the pole and rope.
1 wropped my legs tightly about the trunk OF
the tAce in order TO have free use OF DOth hahus
! Down, down came the moose at the end OF me
| pole | never saw a thing move more slowly;
| At last | clutched it, and with death grip l
/ soon had the moose my shoulders and ABOUT
| nv waist | then told Pete to haul up the slack.
As soon as the moose frightened / felt that was
! safe. -, III. ~ 90, .ho
rope above the moose and prepared to emerge
How many men are now holding your" L
! asked Pete.
Can they hold you while you give OrdersP"
well don't let your heels fly up. How many
men are holding me :"
-Four five"
And is the end Of the rope still fast to the
wv Yes. sir. still fast"
We'll then / may well make move and
get out of here. However, now think OF It,
where is Bob PaXton?"
"On the rope, sir.
MY rope or yours?'
"Yours, sir"
TEL him that I'm hungry, ana ask Nun "a
please to for me the lunch he has in his coat
pocket" ,
Pete opened his eyes in establishment but turned
his head and gave the order. Though felt almost
! as safe as if out on the brow of the cliff, knew
that the space fright still held Pete in its power
and | did ali this talking 10 try his steadness
before giving him my real business orders
The first thing was TO taut the rope in line Tor
Pete was still holding it. | told him to let go of
it and tell the men to haul gently on it until l
cried halt.
Pete did as directed. and repeated my order
when I called halt. The rope did not lie directly
in n line with the trunk of the tree and made
him the men by motioning with his hand I'LL
/ had studied out the whole programme while
waiting for the rope. / wanted TO steady myself
by the trunk of the tree in going up, instead of
swinging in against the wall and banging about,
as the butt and roots Of the tree would be Of as
sistance in getting up to the crest Of the cliff.
/ explained this 10 Pete after the rope was in
line and taut. Then l said to him; Now, Pete,
if you feel quite safe we'll start up"
Il am ready, sir"
Very well Now repeat my orders to the
men instantly and exactly as l give them"
Yes sir"
Haul away steadily" cried l.
The order was repeated and aotcd on. Up 1
went. calling out as | went: Steady, steady i
not so fast .-sO-steady, so :"
| made but one halt. That when my head
was on a level with the brink and at the point
where had partly TO support my weight upon tho
butt of the tree in order to mount over the roots
After that a steady haul brought me upon the
steps inland, where l tumbled down all of a
heap.
was weak as an infant.
Water, water" murmured. I'm SO faint ~
and came near fainting in reality.
Water was brought from a rill, and with II
was mingled some brandy which Van Vranl1n
had remaining in his flask Next took SILVER
ing fit Il began 10 feel the cold and was helped
into my clothes | was still too weak TO stand
alone. 50 sat on the ground for time and rested
When helped TO my feet rose the biggest coward
in the crowd A yoke of oxen could not have
. drawn me 10 the brink Of the cliff over which
Pete Bowers had thurst his head while helping
me- Pete went ont and got for me piece OF
cedar root 10 show me that it was almost as
tough as bucksiIin string. thought it was very
hardy Of him to brave so much for 50 little.
. At last | was able 10 mount my horse with some
, help, and we started for home, sending the rope
back by some men that had come down from the
tlnmc camp. In about an hour was all right. the
motion Of the horse starting my blood AGAR
through all my veins.
1t was not until we were almost in sight Of
Omega that any one ventured TO speak of the bet
] had Won ! said that | wished never again Il
hear them mentioned that | would hold the mar
10 be my enemy that ever again said q wOrC
about the bets and felt and meant it. Strange
as it may seem, while was hanging in the tire,
and veXed with my friends for not doing 110re fo
me. | said 10 myself over and over again that i
| ever got out alive | would exact from thos'
l fellows the last cent of every bet / had made
My performance was not ono that | proud
Of, and for years 1t was not mentioned in my
D presence by any one who cared 10 be nv friend
! As long as / remained in the town Of Omega
even till the year 500 when | saw mvsel
pointed ont and eyes following me. Thought i
was being said There goes the blamed foo
r that went after the eagles ncstl"
Also. even 10 this day, the adventure often inter
p feres with my sleep. just when | am on thu
Z point Of quietly entering the realms Of lreaman,
find myself ont on tht cedar see the youn:
eagles falling huttering down, down into TN
awful abyss, and again I am thrilled In ever,
nerve with the old fright of space yawnin!
beneath me. 1t is true that / have discovers
the cure for this fright, but it is big medicine
b and don't banker after it.-Dan Do guile il
The Overland