Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-08-26

definite extent or to be twisted at tn
end into the spiral folds of flying drl
gon. Nor was the flaming breath O
fiery glance of that tabled animal want
ing to complete the picture. My eyes
ed the supposed monster with a fui
proportion of unholy light
1t would be endless We're | to merel!
hint at all the fancies that posed my
mind. Every object that was hideou:
and roaring presented itself to my i'm
aginatiOn. l often thought that l Wa:
in a hurricane at sea and that the YES
sci in which l was embarked TOSSED
under me with the most furious vehe
mence. The air, set in motion by tn.
swinging of the bell, blew over me
nearly with the violence and more thar
the thunder of a tempest; and the tiool
seemed TO real under me, as under I;
drunken man. But the most awful OF
all the ideas that seized Oh me Were
drawn from the supernatural.
| In the vast cavern of the bell hideoU&
faces appeared and glared down on me
with the terrifying frownS or with grin
ming mockery still more appalling.
! found | was becoming deliriouS and
! trembled lest reason should utterly de
! sert me. l feared lest when utterly
! deprived of my senses, [ should rise
| to do which | was every moment
| tempted by that strange feeling Wilicl
calls on a man whose head is dizzy
from standing Oh the battlement of 4
lofty castle, to precipitate himself from
it-and then death would be instant
and tremendous.
When [ thought Of this | became DIES
perate. | caught the floor With Il grasp
which drove the blood from my nails.
and yelled with the cry of despair ]
called for help, l prayed, l shouted,
but all the efforts of my voice Were of
course, drowned in the bell. AS it pas
sed over my mouth it occasionally echo
ed my cries, which mixed not with it's
own sound. but preserved their distinct
character. Perhaps this was but fancy.
TO me, | know, they then shouting
bowling or laughing of the fends with
which my imagination had peopled The
gloomy cave which swung over me.
In twenty minutes the ringing was
done. Half Of that time passed over
me without power of computation-the
other half appeared an age. When it
&C ased L became gradually more quiet,
but Il new fear retained me. I knew
that five minutes would elapse without
ringing, but at the end Of that short
time the bell would be rlmg a second
time for five minutes more | could
not calculate time. A minute and an
hour were equal duration. | feared to
rise lest the five minutes should have
clasped and the ringing be again COM
menced, in which ease | should be
crushed before | could escape against
toe walls or framework of the bell.
therefore still continued to lie down.
cautiously shifting myself, however,
with 4 careful gliding. 50 that my eye
no longer looked into the hollow. This
was of itself Il considerable relief.
The cessation of the noise had, in Il
great measure, the effect of SIMPLIFYING
me, for my attention, being no longer
occupied by the chimeras [ had CON
jured UP, began to flag. All that now
distressed me was the constant eXpec-
tation Of the second ringing, for which,
however, | settled myself with n kind
Of stupid resolution. | closed my eyes
and c'inched my teeth as firmly as il
they We're screwed in Il vice.
At last the dreaded moment came
and the first swing OF the bell eNtortcd
Il gro"n from nee as they say the most
roSnlutr victim screams at the sight Of
the rack. to which he is for Il second
time destined. After this, however, !
lay silent and letllargic, without Il
thought.
When ii ceased | was reused Il little
by the hope Of escape. / did not, how
ever, decide on this step hastily. bur.
putting up my hand with the upnost
the ringing had ceased it still was ire
mulous from the sound and shook I'M
der my hand, which instantly recoiled
as from an electric jar. A quarter Of
an hour probably elapsed before |
again dared to make the experiment,
and then | found it at rest. / deter
mined to lose no time, fearing that
might have lain then already too long
and that the bell foI evening service
would catch me-
This dread stimulated me. and / slip
ped out with the utmost rapidity. and
arose. | stood l suppose, for minute.
looking with silly wonder on the place
OF my imprisonment, penetrated with
JOY at escaping, but then rushed down
the stony and irregular stair VITA the
velocity of lightning and arrived in the
bellringer's room. Ny hands We're
torn and bleeding; my hair disheyclled
and my clothes catered
| leaned against the wall, motionless
and deprived Of thought, in which DOS
ture my companions found me, when.
in the course of couple of hours. they
returned to their occupation.
By One -1rm.
1t is a matter of surprise to me-" re-