The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-08-20
Saving the Lieutenant.

At about 10 O'clock In tho forenoon We ar.
rived at the canon we had been sent out from
Fort Ellis to bridge. There were twelve Of US
under command of lieutenant and while q
part OF the men prepared camp the remainder
set about looking for suitable timber. At this
point the walls Of the canon were plumb up
and down as If laid by the hand OF man. and
the height of them exactly 1913 feet. After
about fifty feet down the darkness shut out
further vision. but we knew that n stream Of
water ran at the bottom. While the rift was
two miles long it was Il narrow one. From
bank to bank where we stood the distance was
thirty two feet There we're dozen big boul-
ders on our side. and as the soldiers pulled OF
their coats to so to work they put their shoul-
dsrs to the stones and sent them rolling and
crashing down into the darkness. 1t was
enough to make one SILVER to hear them
strike the rocks and lily into fragments.
The best trees for our purpose We're on the
der pine and managed to launch it across as q
bridge for two or three axemen to pass over.
over without the slightest trouble but one
after another the soldiers made a start and
weight. and the thought Of the awful fall was
enough to make us weak in the knees The
man dared stand Uprsh and the two or
three Of US who sat as f and started to
the bae GSes a we s ge1 ses
and had no oa Courage et WITH VIII bitter ns
at our lack Of nerve. the Lieutenant ordered Us
aside and started to make the passage With
nothing to balance him. and walking as erect
as If on parade: he stepped out, He had gained
ominous crack. There was weak spot In it
somewhere and he was a heavy man. The
cries combined unneryed the officer. He threw
up his hands and uttered shrek. and I
falling astride the log. His face was toward
us. and for u few minutes it was the face OF q
dead man. The log had bent down In the Gems
splinters Of break. Not 4 man OF US moved
r he rsF ptc1Her s ns
Tao color came back to his face. his eyes lost
their look of horror. and his voice was fairly
;, Don't get excited. men,, It's a bad sltua-
ton. but Il think you can help me , out OF IL
oysr ~ ny Isad !! the log breaks the moose
1t was n new rope. about 90 feet long. By
the time the moose was ready al OF US were
Ii tcet. but tho trouble was the position Of the
officer. lie sat bent over, with his hands rest
qs Oh no s sm raet
ders and fell OIL. After dozen failures no
and shove the end out to me-
There wasn't one suitable for the purpose
trim il UP and carry it to the spot, We dared
not touch the log he was on. but rested the
way under his weight. and every half minute
sudden move on lis part Would prsciptate the
m M 10 ne must aust
brari tH u up '' portion of his weisRt anu
LIS gong to be close nG Gail" he said as ne
aSans gu" ns will e hs on
shall graf the pole suddenly, and it viii be .
AMY wef a S SSn s soadi Ksse
aloud and then make Il grab for the pole"
The pole or tree was about twenty-five feet
lnn,r md man iaE al raFah
pole, When we had put out sixteen feet ofitr
We had only nine feet on the bank. and that did
SO So SIT down on the Init Of the pole. and the
corporal 81, stood ready with ne n ,p rope
was crash and the log fell into the canon. and
uns he eeHshs hs snf
but viii 10 yet cheering. q white splinter suds
asay s pGs bsssn to f Ss sdaa
not see. but he heard the, swapping and knew
what had taken place. We we're AFRAID to slew
within reach. but he called to us, Steady.
men! Keen your heads Kneel down With
Hf hs Th"re was
Corporal. YOU go down tho bank and be ready
though his head WAS Ave or six feet below it.
H wh TIN Tier" oy was at in sna
cried out and at the same instant the corporal
""S nS won "s s T' Ss the osr
head and shoulders tiGhtened under his arms,
and. though he dropped twenty feet. we pull ed
than a few bruises received by contact with
the rocks. For thrce or four minutes he lay
in n faint, and his face was as white az
snow. but then he pulled himself together. SAT
up and looked around him, and gently said
Come. men. get the tents up and dinner
going. and guess III have a smoke before we
begin work on the bridge again"
His nerve and the curuorhl's lucky throw had
saved him from terrible death. but within q
week his iron-Cray hair was no longer iron
gray. IL was almost as white az his face had
been when he lay gasping and trembling on
the edge OF tho bank with the moose still
about him.
Ways of u Captive Wildcat