St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1892-04-02


But, when silence reigned for some time,
Pierce Ryan stepped out and said:
1.-The only hope is in descending to her
aid, and with Heavens Help l will make
the trial. Give me rope"
otis Madness" said one. "Dont at,
tempt it, Pierce, if you value your lite,
said another. you'll be killed before
you're half way down."
"No matter, replied Pierce, "Ill risk
my life to save fellow creature, and II
| am killed, I'll die in a hol y cause.
"Nobly spoken, Pierce Ryan, said
Father Brien, the village pastor, land
may your Heavenly Father be with you
in your attempt. He who guided the
children of Israel through the desert,
will not desert you in this extremity"
The words of the venerable priest had
ON invigorating effect on the listeners,
and infused new hope into their bosoms.
The tackle was speedily rugged, the tire
was replenished, and then the adventurer
stood on the edge of the cliff awaiting a
lull in the gale. The attempt now to be
made was one OF the most perilous ma
ture, and death would be sure to overtake
the adventurer if his nerve should fail
him. The side of the precipice was
nearly perpendicular, it shelved in per
haps few yards in its descent, while its
surface was broken everywhere with tls-
sures and jutting crags. The only pos
sible means by which the foot OF the
precipice could be reached would be by
the aid of pole, used with quick eye
and steady nerve, to fend off the adven-
turer from the side Of the cliff. Added
to all this peril, however, was that OF the
darkness. How could person de-
scending the face of the cliff on such
night, guard himself with any
certainty against the numerous
iutting fragments of the rock2 Or, how
could he, even if he could effect his own
descent, ascend again to the edge Of the
cliff above with another person: AT
length it was arranged that Pierce should
descend at once by means Of rope, girt
around his body, and made fast above,
while another rope should accompany
him down. Then if he reached the foot
of the precipice in safety, cloaks and
| blankets should be lowered to him in
order that the sufferer might be protected
against the chilling blasts. Everything
having been arranged, the daring advent
urer seized favorable opportunity dur
ing the lull of the gale and commenced
his descent. The light of the fire, as it
shivered on the dark face Of the preci-
pice, and the wild whirlpool Of foam be.
low, gave an ominous character to all
around him; but his heart was stranger
to fear; and skillfully avoiding the jut-
ting angles of the rock, he reached al
length the foot of the cliff, and with G
light bound springing over an intermedi
ate chasm, stood by the side of the fugl
tive from the wreck.
We shall not attempt to describe hel
emotions during the dizzy descent OF
Young Pierce Ryan, nor the glad cry OF
10y with which she saw him land on the
rock to which she chung. She would
have thrown herself at his feet but hi
would not permit it. Raising her up, hi
said:
"Our thanks are due to God alone, lie
US pray to Him that we may escape thu
peril which yet surrounds US, for
scarcely know how we can reach the tol
of the cliff. But do not droop, for
have come to save you or die with you.
The fugitive raised her grateful eyes
and thenPierce saw for the first time tina
she was young girl apparently seven
teen, and of unusual loneliness. Pierre
felt that he could dare the same DANCE
thousand times to win another sue
grateful glance from the eyes of tn
lovely stranger. But the exposed stu
alton of the rock on which they stood
for every wave dashed the cold spray Owe
thomson recalled him to the necessit.
of providing place Of shelter for hi
companion until means should be foun
to raise her to the summit of the cliff
,, With great difficulty, and aided by tn
r, rope from above, he succeeded in ele
waiting her to narrow shelf of the rocl
some ten feet higher up the face of tn
cliff Il can never sufficiently than
you," said the grateful girl, "but Go
will bless YOU
!. 81 see that they are lowering dow
cloaks in which to wrap yourself an
keep out this pitiless Storm sal
= Pierce.
The bundle was by this time swingin
overhead, and, watching u chance ,youn
Pierce soon succeeded in catching an
. disentangling it from the rope.
! Happily he had provided himself ell
. he began his descent with restorative
and these he now applied freely to tt
q sinking girl. He besought her to wal
y to and fro, on the narrow ledge Of roc
3 on which they stood. BY these effor
he succeeded in partially reviving he
v and at the end Of half an hour, he sa
= with Joy unspeaketle, that the tempe
had begun to lull. Pierce now gave II
a signal to those above, and soon cha
n was descending. How he trembled vii
@ eagerness during the minutes tn
: elapsed ere it reached the rock. /
: length the chair swung on the ledg
+ where they stood.
4 Not moment was to be lost. f
o horting his companion to rally her enc
: gies for this last effort, he dashed b
O firmly in her seat, and selling the rol
:, by which the ascent of the chair was
a be guided, gave the signal. The attem
q was perilous to the last degree, but the
!. knew that it was the only chance for Ii
4 left. With fearful eyes his companic
k took leave of him, but Pierce, assumil
d cheerfulness he scarcely felt, bid h
t retain her presence of mind and all wou
J. go WE'LL "Oh,' said the girl, sit is on
f for you / fear now. How can you rea'
It the summit, when there will be no OF
}, below to guido your ascent"
n 1.-The God who preserved me once W
/, preserve me again, if He sees fit sa
i Pierce. "Bcfore ten minutes | shall
@ safe at your side With beati1
n heart the yonng man gazed at the diz
~ course of the chair Once or twice