The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-12-03
PETHERICK'S PERIL.

lilt MY CilIlo VI tllC NbtAsSA VI wi II al
Millions of sea-fowl make their nests
along the face of those wave-worn
precipices. My companions and l used
to get much excitement, and some
times a good deal of pocllet-money, by
taking their eggs. One of US, placing
his feet in loop at the end of rope
and taking a good grip with his hands,
would be lowered by the others to the
nest. When he had his basket full
they would haul him up, and another
would go down.
Wen, One afternoon, I thus went
dangling off. They paid out about
hundred feet of rope before touched
the ledge and let go.
You must know that most of the
cliffs along that coast overhang the sea.
At many points one could drop 600 feet
into the sea, and then be 10 or so feet
from the base of the rock he left. The
coast is scooped under by the waves.
But in some places the cliff wall is as
though i had been eaten away by seas
once running on higher levels. There
will be an oyerhanging coping; then,
ing o0t farther than that of the top:
under that ledge, all will be scooped
away. In places there are three or four
such lodges, each projecting farther
than those above. These lodges used to
fall away occasionally, as they do yet l
am told, for the ocean is gradually de-
vouring that coast. Where they did not
e., Ia- br,, Tho onnino-
enc lad would swing like pendulum on
the rope and get on the rock if not too
far in. Then put a rock on the loop
to hold it till his return. When
a ledge did project so that one could
drop on it, he hauled down some slack
and left the rope hanging.
Well, the ledge l reached was like
this: 1t was some ten feet wide; it
stuck out maybe some six feet farther
than the cliff top; the rock wall went
up pretty near perpendicular, till near
the coping at the ground, but below
the ledge the cliffs lace was so
scooped away that the sea, 800 feet be-
low. ran in under it nigh so feet.
AS | went down thousands of birds
rose from the jagged places Of the
precipice, circling around me with
harsh screams. Soon touching the
ledge, 1 stepped from the loop, and,
drawing down a little slack, walked Off
briskly. For fully quarter of a mile
the ledge ran along the cliffs face al
most as level and even in width as
sidewalk. | remember fancying that
it sloDed outward more than usual, but
instantly dismissed the notion, though
CATER Pentreath, the oldest man in
that countryside, used to tell us that
we should not get the use of that ledge
always. 1t had been as steady in our
time as in his grandfather's, and we
only laughed at his prophecies. Yet
the place of an old filled assure was
marked by a line of grass, by tufts of
weeds and small bushes, stretching
along as far as the ledge itself, and
within foot or so of the cliffs face.
Eggs were not SO many as usual, and
vent a long piece from m, rope be
fore turning back. Then | noticed the
very strange conduct CT the hosts OF sea-
fowl below. Usually there we're hun
dreds, but now there were thousands
on the wing, and instead of darling
forth in playful motions, they seemed
to be wildly excited, screaming shrilly,
rushing out in terror and returning in
masses as though to aIight, only to
wheel in dread and keep the air in vast
clouds.
The weather was beautiful, the sea
like glass. At no great distance two
large briggs, and nearer a small yacht,
lay becalmed, heaving on the long bill
lows. | could look down her cabin
stairway almost, and it seemed scarcely
more than long leap to her deck.
Puzzled by the singular conduct of
the sea-birds, soon stopped, and set
my back against the cliff to rest while
watching them. The day was deadly
still and very warm.
l remember taking off my cap and
wipng the sweat from my face and
forehead with my sleeve. While doing
this, | looked down involuntarily to the
assure at my feet. Instantly my blood
almost froze with horror. There was
a distinct crack between the inner edge
of the fssure and the hard-packed, root
threaded soil with which it was filled.
Forcibly l pressed back, and in flash
looked along the ledge. The fissure was
widening before my eyes, the rock be-
fore me seemed sinking outward, and
with a shudder and groan and roar
the whole long platform fell crashing
to the sea below. | stood on a margin
of rock scarce foot wide, at my back
a perpendicular cliff, and 500 feet below
the ocean, now almost hidden by the
vast concourse of wheeling and alright
ed birds.
Can you believe that my first sensa-
tion was one of relief? ! stood safe!
Even feeling of interest held me for
some moments. Almost coolly | OBJ
served long and mighty wave roll out
from beneath. It went forth high,
curling cres'.-a solid wall of water. II
struck the yacht stern on, plunged
down on the Geek, smashed through
her swell of sail, and swept her out Of
sight forever,
Not till then did my thought dwell
entirely on my own position; not till
then did comprehend its hopelessness.
Now my eyes closed convulsively, to