Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1896-07-14
In mistaken pity for


him Isyielded.
As we reached the summit, behold !
There were three mountain peaks in a
row. Tom sprang forward and after an
other struggle we were at tho top of the
central mountain. As we approached
the top it could be seen that there had
been volcanic action in ages past. Ia
petl's eyes were rolling in every direc-
ton, on the look out FOR some superna-
turaI phenomenon. Suddenly bursting
through dense fringe Of bushes we found
ourselves on the very edge of a vast
crater. AS with common impulse we
looked to the center and there was an
immense bowlder "At last" cried
Tom, cat iasti'' Then no ran his eye
along the verge, scanning it foot by
foot. ftThe path. he almost screamed,
and he stumbled along at pace that,
exhausted as we were, we could scarce
" maintain. ''Take care, To1n," / man
aged to calculate. though I was nearly
as wild as he. But Tom apparently
heard nothing. He had eyes and ears
only for the one goal.
The path along the side of the preci-
pice, we could see, led upward from the
wide floor of the arena far below us, but
the top was concealed from our intent
gaze by a dense mass of shrubbery.
Around the sides of the crater we half
stumbled, half ran. When we reached
the spot where we thought it possible to
strike upon the opening. we made dashes
here and there into the greenery. After
many disappointments cry from Tom
told me the path had been found. Ia
petl by this time was in state of col
lapse through fear and fatigue. Again L
warned Tom to exercise caution, but he
plunged ahead, and followed as slowly
as 1 conld. The path downward was not
more than q foot in width, and it re-
quired all my strength and dexterity to
keep my footing. Suddenly on rounding
a sharp angle in the face of the preci-
pice was confronted by fiat rock five
minutes climb farther down. 1t seemed
to be set in the face of the crater and to
jut out, cutting off farther progress IN
that direction. Tho rock was of Pc
culiar reddish yellow color and, on look
ing more intently, it seemed to take
upon itself the shape of monstrous
hand. 1t flashed over me all at once
this was the golden hand of the Indian s
legend. I called to Tom, but he was far
below me. "Tom, the rockP' cried
hoarsely. and my own voice sounded
strangely in my ears. But Tom had al
ready reached it. Suddenly scream OF
anguish I shall never forget rose in that
awful stiffness, and in another instant l
saw that poDderous hand OF golden stone
sink lower, still lower. Another scream,
wilder than before, and Toms form
could be seen striving vainly to clutch
with his hands the smooth surface as it
sank downward with increasing rapid
ity. shut my eyes and listened. The
sight was too awful to bear. When 1
opened them, the rock that had turned
on pivot with poor Toms weight was
upright and wns moving back to its
original place rf that frightful fall in
to the crater never dared to think. Old
Zapetl and 1 had weary days of toll in
our return to the plantation, and my life
was nearly forfeited by fever in which
I could hear Tom S last dGspairing shrek
and see him sliding to his awful death.
Brooklyn Eagle.