Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-02-18

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Pierce Ryan stepped out and said: II
"The only hope is IN descending to her
aid, and with Heavens Help will make
the trial. Give me a rope" II
sIts madness" said one. ssDont at
tempt il, Pierce, If you value your life
said another. AYou'll be killed before
you're half way down."
"No matter, F" replied Pierce, "lll risk
my life to save fellow creature, and II
/ am killed, I'll die in holy cause i
.sNobly spoken Pierce Ryan" said
Father OBrien, the village pastor, land
may your Heavenly Gather DO with you
i'm 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
an inyigorating effect on the listeners,
and infused new hope into their bosoms
The tackle was speedily rugged, the fire
was repIenished, and then the adventuref
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 oyertake
the adyenturer 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 ms
sutes and iutting 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 q 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
jutting fragments of the rock 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 q 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-
1 ting angles of the rock, he reached at
, length the foot of the cliff, and with q
: light bound springing over an intermedi-
| ate chasm, stood by the side of the fugi-
. tive from the wreck.
Q We shall not attempt to describe her
Q emotions during the dizzy descent OF
d Young Pierce Ryan, nor the glad cry OF
Q ioy with which she saw him land on the
rock to which she chung. She would
r have thrown herself at his feet but he
!, would not permit it. Raising her up, he
6 said:
o "Our thanks are due to God alone, le
8 us pray to Him that we may escape the
peril which yet surrounds US, for
o scarcely know how we can reach the tot
e OF the cliff. But do not droop, for
= ehave come to save you or die with yeu.
The fugitive raised her grateful eyes
" and thenPierce saw for the first time tina
u she was a young girl apparently seven
~ teen. and of unusual loneliness. Pierc
NJ felt that no could dare the same DANCE
G n thousand times to win another sue
III grateful glance from the eyes OF til
" lovely stranger. But the exposed stu
I Us alton of the rock on which they stood
80 for every wave dashed the cold spray Owe
AZ thomson recalled him tn the necessit
~ of providing place OF shelter Tor hi
:" companion until means should be toun
H. to raise her to the summit OF the CHI
h' With great difficulty, and aided by tn
We rope from above, he succeeded in el,
u waiting her to a narrow shelf of the rocl
III some ten feet higher up the face OF tn
cliff. Il can never sufficiently than
nc YOU" said the grateful girl, but GC
10 will bless you"
ne 81 see that they are lowering dow
is' cloaks in which to wrap yourself III
keep out this pitiless storm, sa
II Pierce.
'th The bundle was by this time swingil
overhead, and, watching Il chance, your
Pierce soon succeeded in catching al
disentangling it from the rope.
IA Happily he had provided himself e
= he began his descent with restorative
and these he now applied freely to t
. sinking girl. lie besought her to wa
49,, TO and fro, on the narrow ledge of TO
rns OH which they stood BY these etfol
GO he succeeded in partially reviying III
e., anG at the end of half an hour, he s.
w., with Joy unspeakable that tho tempe
-: had begun 10 lull. Pierce now gave
e, signal TO those above, and soon q CHI
~ was descending. How he trembled W
H. eagerness during the minutes Il
tor elapsed ere it reached the rock.
10 length the chair swung on the lcd
hat where they stood.
saJ Not moment was to be lost. 1
tho horiing his companion TO rally her en-
,;os pies for this last effort, he dashed
W. firmly in her seat, and Selling the re
,a.' bv which the ascent of the chair was
',Se be guided, gave tho signal. The atten
: was perilous to the last degree, but Il
o. knew that it was the only chance for
III left. With fearful eyes his compan
-ecL took leave of him, but Pierce, assum
rod cheerfulness he scarcely felt, bid
shot retain her presence of mind and all wo
- 60 well. "Oh," said the girl, sit is o
C for Won fear now. How can you re-
;s.Lt the summit. when there will be no
o1n below TO guide your ascent:"
= ~ "The God who preserved me once
ern preserve me again, If He sees mt, {
rard Pierce. Before ten minutes shall
IL safe Mt your side With beat
or heart the yonng man gazed at the di
over course of the chair. Once or twice
ov trembled violently as he saw ii des
Neon all he could do, swinging in danger