The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1892-05-05

L ll1U NolJA 1 MUM
the summit wss fesched and be sprang
IisLty npon lhe rim Of the suanc,burned
sod
4 The t~o bFesthlese wstchen below pull
ed oii their caps and hurrshed, but be
stood silently si the dizzy top till the
echoes Of their voices in the cliffs bad
died. Raising bis hand to get their aiien'
ton be shouted in strong monrnful tone
| csn never go back. Don't wait for me.
bu, try IL you can get help. Then be sal
down upon . roct. exhausted from the
desperate climb.
The top OF this islsnd uas sbont three
acres in area. and WAS inhabited by more
than fve thousand birds II would be al
most impossible To take step 10 any di
rection without ,resding into q nest, and
the mothers became iufuristed ~ George
walked about rose With shrill cfes. brushi
ing bis face with their wings snd peckiog
ssvsgely at him. The wings o, the other
birds lowering about aud fyirg across the
island fairly darkened the ground, snd
there we're iumult aud ai ss.smong ell the
CORN Grants ct the intrusion upon their
abode.
George struck several Of the birds with
one OF his gsfi.. and. after killing them by
pounding their hesds against rock. threw
thom over the precipice TO the boys below,
for he knew they would liuser sbout the
base OF the island before returning home.
Then with despsir in his bes't he sat upop
the cod near the verge OF the cliff and
watched for the departure Of the skifi.
Night soon fell upon sea aud land; and
be sat there through the pitohy dark, hour
after hour. terrified by the binding liehtn
Mug aud deafeniog thunder and deluged
by the pitiless rain. Not once through |
that long and terrible night did he close
his eyes 10 sleep, and when the gray dawn
appeared In the east grea. ihrob OF hope
went through bis heart.
The clouds rolled away aud the sun
burned up on the edge OF the sea like
q large scarlet furnace. And with the ris,
ing OF the sun came the voices OF bis par
epts and friends from the mainland asking
him how be had Jared through the night
and telling him TO keep up his spirits.
Then some OF them tried to throw across
food made up In tins aud little parcels,
but they all fell short aud dropped into
the gulf below,
He was now tortured with hunger, and
on the advice of bic mother, who stood In
front OF the assemblsge on the mainland'
he built FIRE out OF the decayed grasses
and weeds, the dry bones Of birds and nest
aud roasted half dozen eggs,
selecting the fresh ones when cooked and
eating them.
SO far no one could devise any means OF
him. 1t was in possible to stretch
q ladder across, aud access from below was
equally impossible. His father for several
hours tried to fly rope across the chasm,
but fell short fully forty feet from the
brink of the islsnd. The group stood
there in mute sorrow, the mother con
shouting across words Of eDcour
agement.
Hour after hour passed till the sun had
passed the meridian, then the party
on the mainland heard wild cawing close
beside them, and turning saw that Jack.
poor Georges raven. had joined them. No
sooner did George see him than an idea
flashed through bis mind. Fssten the
msllest rope You have TO his leg and
will get him to bring it across.
Fortunately one OF the party had
brought along reel cod line, so the bird
" as captured end the line fastened to his
leg, after which il was placed in loose
coil BY the brink Of the mainland cliff
Come, Jack, come. shouted George, and
Immediately upon the bird being released
he plunged ont into the sir across the
gulf with exnltsnt chattering, dragging
the line, and straight for George, perching
at his feet and looking Ut him with vide.
curious eyes.
The party on the mainland understood
the expediept. and Immediately fastened
the end Of the heavy coils Of rope to the
small line, and then fastened carefully to
pether all the heavy coils Taking the
small line in his hand. George drew
across the heavy coil and when he got
hold OF the end OF it took it to pointed
rock aud car, fully fastened 1t around It.
The men on the mainland then threw the
joined cable carefully over into the gull
and it went with aswssh down into the
sea
George next fastened the ne from
Jacks leg. then saying few cheery words
to bis mother got over the rope and de
scended swiftly down over the precipice
and was received below by boat which
Law by the lower end OF the rope.
wild hurrah went up from the delight
ed friends. but not one made louder de,
monstrstion Of Joy than Jack. who went
screaming down the ABYSS and perehed 10
the bost beside his beloved master.
~
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