The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-05-09
Fixed upon the rope that spanned tho

narrow stream.
They are watching for your death.
ride, for, believe me, when you mount
You wheel again, it will be for the last
time! The revenge of u Spaniard
awaits YOU"
shuddered, but as l stepped back
ward saw that my Columbian was by
my side, and the old man pointed to it
significantly.
Must l ridc?" l said in u husky voice.
"Iou must"
My hands tremblcd, but took the
handles of the machine and carefully
tested the tightness OF the rope ut the
the end. The crowd cheercd, and +
took my position on the seat, moving
slowly out upon my pcrilous trip.
"A steady hand and clear brain, /"
said the old man, coolly.
The wind had entirely died away.
and l felt the Slight quivcrine of the
rope beneath me. One-third of the
distance was Travelled, when | felt q
quicker vibration, and glancing ahead 1
saw Carlos Lcvangez with n sharp
knife in his hand, crouching down at
the farther end with exultation and
madness glaring in his snalsish eyes.
go PVSS "oo piilulJ CFlQCuL-CO
cut the rope and prccipitate me into
the boiling water below. and no one
| raised hand to prevent it, made
three more revolutions, the weapon
rasped across my hcmpcn bridge, and
went down with smothcred cry of
agony! graspcd wildly at empty
space, and found myself alone and
sitting on the ground in utter dark
ness. Above the soughing of the wind
and the distant growl of thunder 1
could hear the brawling voice Of the
Platte at my right hand. For five
minutes 1 sat still trying to realize
where L was and what had befallen
Inc, and by degrees it came to me
that l had seen no old man, but had
tried my hand at slecp-wallSing under
the spell of n terrible vision
gathered myself up and crawlcd
back to Clitfside, firmly resolved that I
would not tell Elizabeth what had hap
pcned, but that would cross the rope
alone the next day to get my nerves
toned down for my great triumph.
had but little appetite for breakfast
ON the following morning, but man
aged to get through it, as imagined,
without exciting Elizabeth's curiosity,
and at ten 1 stole away from Cliffside.
taking my wheel with me-
It was fair day after the storm, and
when reached the Bend no one was in
sight made all necessary arrange
ments to insure safety, and mountin q
the old blue rim" I started out with
the purpose of overcoming my nervous
trcpidation. went carefully along,
was on the last half Of my trip, when
again, as i'll my dream, felt the rope
jerk under me. One false move, one
swervc in the saddle, and 1 should bc
thrown off my track. Merciful Heaven!
looked ahead, and there at the end
OF the line was Carlos Lcvangcz, with
stiletto in his hand and q cirar be-
tween his teeth.
Come on, Nclsou," he shouted.
American circus rider. cowardly cur,
to steal away the heart of mans
love before his eyes! Come on. and
just before you reach this bank will
send you into eternity"
The waters roagcd loudly in my cars,
q sickening sensation seized me. and
the dimness of twilight settled down
before my eyes, but III the midst of
this l remembered the words of the old
man: "A steady hand and clear
brain" and kept my balance and my
limbs evenly in motion
The stilctto flashed, and Lcvangez
Kew cloud of tobacco-smolSc from his
brutal mouth.
"One-make ready. Two-say your
prayers. Thrce-adios."
The dagger fell, but only partially
accomplished its work, and he raised il
a second time.
dared not give way to the despair
that had taken possession of me, but
mechanically moved on toward this
tend, who would never let me reach
hun alive. L closed my eyes that l
might not see his face in its distorted
malignity, and waited for the last
blow. But it never came. a voice,
clear ana sharp, rang out on the air:
Catch him; Hero! Catch him"
There was low growl, q rustling
spring, and the dagger went spinning
down the bank, while Levangez was
laid upon his back, and over him, with
his white teeth and flaming eyes, stood
'llero-a hero, indeed, at this moment.
Would the frail line hold out till
reached the end? Elizabeth was watch
ing me with exhausted breath, and I
made the last exhibit of my life with
my heart in my mouth. When l
reached terra Jirmd, dropped at the
feet of the bravest girl ever knew.
Alarmed at my distracted appearance
that morning, she had followed me in
time to save my life.
We turned Levangez over to the law,
but he broke Jail and escaped soon