The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-08-14

IN TIC rapids OF Snau0OF6." IL was neltDe<
oath nor prayer--it was a cry out Of Top
het, hopeless. And Madge -
She lifted from her lap the little rife and
dropped it in the stream. a shall never
shoot again" she said. Turning upon the
seat she faced me, pale and still already
with the white, unearlhly beauty of an
angel.
Then with mad energy piled the paddle.
| For one second the Prov touched shore.
My heart gave great throb, but the driv-
ing current swept round the sterl and
bore us on. Then, rs my strength failed,
we were whirled away 10 plunge amid the
swift, thronginR waves that ever press in
tumult down the gorge. For now on either
side rose dark walls of dripping rock, and
the spray drenched gusts that beat against
US were vibrant with the hoarse baying of
Shannore.
Surely the end was near We were fly
ing at racehorse speed over billowy swell.
AT every swing the boat seemed sinking
from beneath us. Yet thus far it had
borne US in safety; fitted at each end with
an alright chamber of copper, unless it
were dashed TO pieces it would not SILK.
Madge's strange, boding words sang in my
ears; was startled with desperate hope.
Not with gun but with boat might she not
skill by some miracle shoot this fierce Shan
more. The brink was in sight. / would
drive over at utmost speed.
''Madgel Madgel Catch the painter and
! hold fast ~ | called
But she, before obeying, leaned toward
me and whispered three words; often
had heard them; through all the din of the
cataract | know them, and even as she
spoke the boat. flung broadside on hidden
rock, was gone like bubble.
Reader-you who sit at case and drink in
quiet OF the summer air-what power Of
mine can bring to you a conception Of what
followed? Had you ever a nightmare
dream of struggling agony in dark under
world Of raving waters2
The change was absolutely without in
terval. / had sat in light with my loved
one thrilled with sudden hope, listening
to sweetest words. l was lost l knew not
how, knew not where, sightess, helpless,
in a chaos of overwhelming forces, sounds,
sensations, too confounding for thought.
Something my hand, not !, had cl1tched
and held with convusive grip. A great
surge bore me up; L caught one flashing
glimpse of light and SKY, and the sane in
stance | was sinking, all was sinking, with
swooning swoop and a believing and
pounding as of q descending avalanch.
Down. down, driven by stunning violence,
| / sunk, deep in a olack abyss, and watery
mountains Numbered over me.
was drown ng; the cataract's crushing
foot was on my chest; my soul was blank.
! Then through the darkness and faintness
felt something plucking. Something-yes
| a rope-was dragging through my grasp,
ana as IL slid a loose knot drew beneath
my fingers and slipped, and frightened, and
! held fast. Recollection walked Madge |
Was she indeed forgottens Again l saw
her standing in translucent starlight, with
quivering lashes. The rope still tugged,
and stolidly clinging, l came at last with
bursting expiration TO the surface; once
more the day beamed in my eyes and
sweet breath was IN my nostrels.
Slowly, trem bling with weakness, made
my way through the uneasy surf hand
over hand along the rope, toward the skiff
Incredible it seems but so profound was
my oewilderment that thought Of Madge
as still within. 1 wondered with Queru-
lous imbecility why she did not help
me, The boat, as it driftsd, churned
heavily, and the gunnel sagged
low; with half petulant expecta-
tlon / raised myself and looked in Except
weltering water nothing. Then with d
frightful pRng reason returned, and l com
pretended. OF all the cruel anguish Of
that day this awakening was worst. sank
back with a strangling sob, and but that
the skif was already beating upon the
shore had sunk with no rising. AS it
was, my feet just touched on the shelving
bottom, and struggling forward l STUN bled
0 Msdge! could you see me there How
many precious minutes fed, while thy
strength waned and thy spirit tainted and
thy lover lay uaheedingi
The sun grew hot or my cheek; its fire
balls cleaned beneath nay eyelids l reused
aud sat upright. The knotted cord lay un-
der ne; the skiff was still grinding on the
beach. lnstinctvely / sought to draw il
toward me, but the rope, dashed in the
ring with but single turn and already
pulled almost to the end, at the first wrench
slipped from its fastenings. The cord hung
in my hand. My knot had loosened, hers
held firm; but she who had tied it,
raised my eyes. Its sunIit column wreathed
in weaving lacework of filmy foam, Shan
more stood resplendent. What vision sends
my blood in fierce, hot pulses What wild
hope drives me with blind leaps toward the
cliff! Only a speck of gray. dim in the
rainbow mists above the pail; but it is
Madge.