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

time both legs on one size OF tnc Naatod eide
tree: that for moment. | should be sealeu SUI II
wise upon il, as a woman sits upon hoISi in
would he no trick at all performed on etPms,nd
gymnasium, II was wholly IN tn9 sN iay' /
feet of space below me that the troupe my 70
therefore determined to perform the lew Tho
versing my position with my eyes shuV' bou1
branches which my bands gTasGe si w me a good
two feet apart, WHICH WouIu give nN
When / felt myself thoroughly nerved for n, my
manoeuvre of facing about, l accorplsn'.u; 80 -
I,nost in an instant that | might have no unie
in which to think of the periious position 10
involved. =. Al, 1od tI,o trunlx
- tba cedar with both hands did / venture
w e,aor INV ewes: and then l directed them III
advance so that they would rest upon inc eus'
~ the cliff at the root of the tree ,.,
Vi NV nnnnIeted my reversal feat / had heard
. sort of fumultuous cry from my friends on the
c1ff the first sound had vet heard from theih -
which | took 10 he q sort OF Spontaneous guy
%nrst of applause but when opened my eyes !
saw at once that 1T must nave oeen 0'' VI
horror. al, ;1-;n,, -,yos riving way
at tbe roots. Now that my attention was dlrecteu
to what was occurring could near uhe GIacNinI
of small roots as the tree seeI 1G% onrer sse any
one on non Of the cliff for was already seVeral
feet below it's brow. could see the earo liz TtV.n
bling aud dropping from the brow oil tne r,i 10
the roots of the tree stretched III the arouhu
Each moment | expected the tree 70 tear loose
and carr, me with IL TO the bottom of the abyss
Strange as il NAV seem. did not IN uhls sltu"1
tio, eXDprience any Sucn IeellnS VI VAtV -
horror as that which for the moment 2YcrwheIInted
me when | looked down after the failing eaglgle.
The calmness Of desperation now took bosSessiIon
linz and thrilling of the nerves All
,voEld doubtless be over in n few seconds
and I was braced for the shock. knew lnr
lacked down to the rocky floor Of the canon eo
tLonsand feet below without tremor. space
gaping beneath no longer had any terrors LOT mt
/ was already no better than ueau h"u
Il mt fpar 8
7 had expected to see them do. Wheh Jhe Dp
Of the tree had turned directly do"nwaf9 tne
roots still held and | chung to II ten leet Delow
tbe verge of the cliff. was astrlde the Itli i
inst AZ the point where the main boughs spre1ilng
out like the ribs of fan, supported the Whoe
weight of nv body; indeed, the trunk OF the tree
being about eight inches in diameter, could hol
so clasp IL except with my arms as 10 sustain any
The tree did not hang fat against the vertical
face Of the cliff There were projecting branches
that kent il about three feet away from me
wall In this position il stopped; ana as C1e
roots still held, began 10 hope that they WouI ,
continue to hold until could be- rescued nov,
ever with the least motion or aGluitlon ~ "'H"'
give way at any moment.
Finding that l was not TO be instantly hurled
down to death, | presently ventured 10 IIt NY my
ewes TO the brow of the elf. c0uld sec 10 ohc'
nor could hear the voices OF my late companions
| began TO fear that | was deserted HtNlu-
seen the tree sink down out OF Slght; they pIop-
oblv believed il had fallen and carried me WIN IL
~ +bo hot+om of the canon. Not one Of them
10 ,IG 1",o Tho norye in view of the happenings
of the dav 10 come 10 the brink and peer over IN
looked upward along the trunk of the tree
neditating as 20 whether an attempt 70 cIlmp ~
would be likely 70 prove successful 81" III
once that to escape in that way would De III
Even though I should be able to climb the
trunk 7 could do nothing when ] came 10 me
brow Of the precpce also Iearru Hl9 nc +5o
the slightest motion the least jar H'ihA0 ' ~
tree to give way .,
Nv thoughts then again turned to my friends.
Nv soul sickened at the thought that they mlgnC
have gone away gone up to the hume camp W
report the latest accident IN -.
I was scanning the line Of the CHI as Tar as
nv ewes could follow it, in the hope OF seeing one
Of my marty out at some curve, when hearu d
voice far above me- in the sky as II sounded 70
me. Are YOU still alive and sateT IL saiu'
Was still safe? 1t seemed cruel Joke.
| turned my face upward to answer, but tor r- a
short time l hesitated. | feared that my mere
eXcrtion in shouting would so agitate the small
tree as 10 tear loose its roots At last, however
using my voice carefully. [ cried: Can you
YES plainly" was the reply.
"Wen, then, am still alive and on the tree,
'0S Hang T on came back. Hang on. and we
| will try TO save you!
looked Nd No one was visible on the verge
| of the wall They were afraid TO approach II
! afraid to stand where 1 would have given worlds
! to have been placed. What TO them seemed a
! place of peril would have been TO me as the kock
| of Ages. 7
Again was left to my thoughts and fears. !
| did not like this seeming deserton. IL appeared
| 10 me 10 he very cOwardy in them not 10 snow
! themselves and stand by me. In such situation
even the sound of the voice OF telloW-man Is a
comfort ., .,,,o.,
by my side-caled to me. looked up and saw
pcering down at me over the bnnk OF the prec'
! nice a face that | recognized as that OF young
| man named Peter Bowers.
Hold on as YOU are" said young Bowers. " My
! brother John has gone back to the Hume camp or
the best horse for a long rope. lie Will soon Do
Good God Soon be back" 1t was, mile
and a half to the camp | must wait until q mar
had ridden three miles. Here was wet blanket
Somehow. when l saw face within ten feet
of mine had felt as though l was saved.
would be up the cliff at onte. Now they were
| going TO make me wait until a man could ride
three miles before trying 70 try to save me. II
was rascally Why not help me at once?
Cant you drop me the end Of q lariat
No. We've only got one lariat. That's tieC
around me and the men are holding the Other
What is all that forP" cried J. in astonishment
"Why, to keep me from falling over into tbs
ITO keep you from falling Good Lord Why
aren't you safe enough anywhere up there on thu
solid rock ?" sneered I.
No. I can hardly stay here with the laria
fast % my waist My head wants to go dow
air in spite Of all | can do"
what cowardly setl" thought /. An III
there is so solid and safe. yet every man there il
afraid to come near enough to give me the enc
of that larat!"
But I was in no position 10 fight any one, there
fore | softly said Surely they can come nea
enough to drop me the end of the laratl'
Yes but who is to come TO the edge to drol
it to you if he Is not held fast?-and we've go
but one arat.'
| / groened.
After a moments thought I said: Where i
Bob Paxton
Pete turned his head and looked.
"Out holding your horse said he.
| "Ah," said J, he is always thoughtful. Bo
is determined that ] shall not 90 home on foot"
! | was so mad that | did not much care whethe
the tree held or pulled up by the roots.
; Wait a bit and hold fast Do have patience
, said PETE. John will soon be here with tn