Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1895-06-01
MARTINsBURG. W. va. SATURDAY. JUNE /. 1896
closed eyes, ..or docs She only sleeps''

10 1uftky OttSsff lOf xifi b<lflk 1tOLctl OIt
this ice What is your plan nows''
This, baas-to tic the end of the rope
that have made from the cloak about
your middle, then to undo the cord that
binds you and the Shepherdess together
and return to the top of the slope. Once
there, l can pub her up BY the hide cord,
for it is strong, and she will slip easily
over the ice, and you can follow"
Good, said Leonard.
Then, hanging by one hand, the dwarf
managed, with such assistance as Leonard
could give him, to knot the end of the line
which he had constructed from the skin
garment beneath Leonard's arms. Next
be set to work to unite the hide cord,
/, thereby freeing him from Juanna. And
now came the most difficult and dangerous
part, for Leonard, suspended from tho
frail shaft of the spear with one hand,
must support Juanna's senseless form
with the ether, while Otter made shift to
drag himself to the summit of the ice,
holding the hide line in his teeth. Tho
spear bent dreadfully and Leonard did
not dare to put any extra strain upon tho
roughly fastened cord of goatskin by which
the dwarf was hauling himself up the ice,
for if it gave they must all be precipitated
bly,, since, without proper ropes and an
ice ak, its ascent would be impossible.
( Faint and frozen as he was, it seemed
hours to him before Otter reached the top
and called 10 him to let go of Juanna.
4 He obeycd, and seating himself on tho
snow, his feet supported by the edge of
the ice, tho dwarf put out his strength
and began to pull her up. Strong as lie
I rpns-a1 nc r1,ylph ha ..1f {r,
do Indeed, had she lain on any other
material than ice, he could not have dcne
it at all, but III the end he succeeded, and
! with gasp Of gratitude Leonard saw her
laid safe upon tho snow
Now Otter, hastily undoing tho cord
from Juanna's waist, made it into run
ming moose, which he threw down TO Leon
ard, who placed it over his shoulders, and
having lifted the spear from the cleft in
which it stood commenced his ascent.
| His first movement cost him a pang Of
agony, and no wonder, for the blood from
wounds that had been caused by the fric-
tion of his flesh as he was hurled along
the surface Of the slide had concealed,
freezing his limbs to the ice, whence they
could not easily be loosened The pain,
sharp as it was, did him good, for it
aroused his benumhcd energies and en-
abled him to drag Oh the goatskin cord
with all his strength, while Otter tugged
at that which was beneath his arms.
Well for him was it that the dwarf had
taken the precaution Of throwing down
this second line, for presently Otter stake,
which had 10 firm hold ON the icy earth,
came out and slid away, striking Leonard
as it passed and bearingtheknotted lengths
of tho cloak with it. The dwarf cried
aloud and bent forward as though We were
about to fan. BY q fearful effort he re-
covered himself and held fast to the rope in
his hand, while Leonard, suspended to it.,
swung to and fro like pendulum on the
surface of the ice.
| Then followed the most terrible mo-
ments Of all their struggles against the
difficulties of this lnerciiess place. The
| dwarf held fast above, and Leonard, ceas-
ing to swing, lay with hands and legs out
stretched on the face of the ice.
Now, baas, said Otter, be brave, and
when pull do you wriggle forward"
He tuggcdtill the thin hide rope stretch
ed, while Leonard clawed and kicked at
the ice with his toes, knees and disengaged
| hand.
| Alasl it gave no hold. He might as well
have tried to climb dome of plate glass
at an angle of GO degrees.
Rest awhile, baas said the dwarf,
whose breath was coming in great sobs,
then make a little nick in the ice with
| the blade of the spear, and when next
pull try to set some of your weight upon
| it,
Leonard did as he was bid without
| speaking.
! Now" said the dwarf, and with a
| push and a struggle he was two feet higher
up the incline. Again the process was re-
pcated. and this time he got his left hand
| into the lowest of the two steps that Otter
had hacked with the knife, and once more
they paused fof breath. A third effort,
the fercest OF them all, clasping of hands,
and he was lying trembling like fright
ened child above the glaciers lip
The ordeal was over, that danger was
done with, but at what cost Leonard s
nerves were completely shattered. lie
could not stand his face was bleeding; his
nails were broken, and the bone of enc
knee was exposed by the friction of the
ice, to say nothing of the shock to the sys-
tenn and the bruises which he had received
when he was hurled from the stone. OF
ter's condition was a little better, but his
/
utterly exhausted with toll and the strain
of suspense Indeed, of the three, Juanna
had come of by far the best, for she had
swooned at the very beginning Of the pas
sage of the bridge, and when they were
jerked from the stone, being lighter than
Leonard, had fallen upon him. Moreover,
the thick goatskin cloak which was wrap
| ped about her protected her from all hurt
beyond a few trifling cuts and bruises. OF
| their horrible position, when they were
| hanging to the spear and the rest of their
adventure, including the death of Sea,
she knew nothing, and it was well for her
reason that this was SO.
Otter" lnurmurod Leonard in a shak-
ing voice, .have you lost that gourd of
spirits"
No, haas; it is safe
Thank heavenl' be said. Hold 1t to
my lips if you cam The dwarf lifted it
with trembling hand, and Leonard
gulped down some Of the fiery spirit.
That's better" he said. Take some
yourself
No, baas; have sworn to touch drink
no more, he answered, looking at the
eourd longingly. Besides You and the
| Shephertess win want it ALL have some
food here. and ! will eat =
what happened to Soa. Otter?'
50 | could not see rightly, baaS. was
too frightened, much more frightened than
had been when / rode the stone myself,
but l think that her legs caught in the ice
on this side of the hole, and so she fell.
1t was good end for her." he added, with
a touch of satisfaction.
1t was very near being bad end for
us, answered Leonard but we have
managed to come out of it alive somehow.
| Not for all the rabies in the world would
/ cross that place again.
!" Nor l, baas. Vow it was awful
Now my stomach went through my head,
and now my head went through my stom-
sch, and the air was rcd and green and
/ blue, and devils shouted at me out of it.
Yes, and when / came to the hole there
saw the water dweller waiting with an
open mouth to eat inc 1t was the drink
| that made me think of all these things,
baas, and that is why have sworn 70
touch it 10 more. Yes, | swore it as | few
through the air and saw the water dwellei
beneath me. And now, haas, am little
rested, SO let us Try to wake up the Shep-
hertiess and get us gone. T"
Yes said Leonard, though l am
sure don't know where We are to go to.
1t can't be far, for am about done. y
Then, crawling TO where Juanna lay
wrapped in her cloak, Otter set to work te
pour some of the native spirit Down bel
throat, while Leonard rubbed her hands
Presently this treatment produced its eff
feet, for she sat up with start, and seeing
tho ice before her began TO shrek, saying
Take me away. can't do it, Leonard