The Lehi banner. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1891-1917, 1896-03-12

OF tho cliif again. H
sUt
CHAPTER II.
AS Paul Armor crcp, back along the
ledge his heart beat very fast. | p aud
down, in and out, painting, hurryiog, hc
passed above the turmoil OF Writer'S
Would they be there when he retuncd?
oh. for wings, or even sound limbs. Bat
how came his limbs so hating? Iiedld
not think Of that now, with his father,
who had manned him, hanging there 30
near 10 death. Pity hnd turned the
noisome current Of hate aside, and hc
wa being carried forward ON the ever
saving, overwhelming stream of love.
In few minutes, that seemed rs
many hours, he came down upon The
beach. His blood was fairly lclping,
and he ran along the sand pitching for
ward in his lameness, and looking pal
lid and wild in the moonlight. A little
way beyond his fathers broken boat he
came to sort Of landing lie remcm-
bered having seen rope there. Yes,
there II lay, cooled and wet, on the bow
Of n canoe. His face lit up and he
seized IL with joyous cry. But It was
fastened TO the boat! Instantly hc fell
upon his knees, and began pulling and
Juggling at the knot, using both fingers
and teeth in his eagcrness. But 1t was
sodden and solid, and would not yield,
Then he seized the nut on the lower
end OF the boat that held the rope, and
twisted II with all his strength. II
turned; and in n moment he had IL off,
and, climbing upon the edge of the boat,
he wound the rope about his shoulders
and hands and lifted hard. Suddenly,
as he strained, the rusty bolt left its
socket, and he plunged headlong from
the boats side upon the wet sand
Scrambling up, and snatching the rope,
he hurried down the beach. without
waiting to take breath, or steady him
self, he plunged into the spray, and,
climbing above the surf, took his dan
gerous way across tho head. Onward
he went, creeping along the dripping
ledge, with clouds Of mist rolling past
him up the cliff, and now and then the
moonlight breaking through upon him
Az he approached the beetling point
that hid his father and the unknown
child from view he paused with ilutter-
ing pulse and listened. No sound save
the long rolling crash of the incoming
surges met HIS ear. Tremblingly he
crcpt on round the point and looked
down; there they hungl and his heart
gave great leap al the sight. The man
with closed eyes seemed sinking down,
but the child still held him fast about
the neck.
f-at
with warning voice, I'm comel I've got
the ropc!"
The man reused himself with pitiful
smile and the boy made hurried moose
Of the rope and cast 1t down. The
father steadied himself and at length
got the moose over the child's head and
around its body. Then he kissed her
and said, falteringly; 'Idontknow who
We are, little thing, an ant made
out word ye'vc said, but we've saved
me 80 far, and mebby II wa get outer
here yen keep me saved from something
worse than this Good-by!"
Then grasping the rope TIGHTLY Paul
began to pull and the child swung
away from the man and hung over the
plunginR waters with wide. terrified
eyes. Slowly he drew her up, aud the
man watched until she was safe on the
ledge; then he said: snow, son, I'll see
what good AM" and he began strug-
Cling 10 get upon the end of the leaning
column.
Again and again he essayed IL: he
WAS so numb he could scarcely move.
The boy watched him, with every
muscle rigid from sympathy. The
action seemed 10 warm and freshen the
man, and at last he got upon the pillars
end and sat still, with his forehead rest
ing against the cool wall before him,
"Now, my son." he said, when he had
gotten his breath, take all the time ye
need for gettin' the little thing onto dry
ground. III be a-restin while y're gone,
Don't hurry, I'll be a-restin'. Keep the
rope round the child, an If she falls
mebby ye ken save her again, I'd
rather ye'd save her than me. Good
by"
Slowly and warily the boy picked his
way through the curling mist, guiding,
lifting, leading the frightened child
along the dizzy path. At last they came
down and out upon the beaten sand,
and as he took the rope from round the
child's quivering form he heard n cry,
and looking up saw his mother coming
down the rain-gullied bluff, with the
gray light OF dawn breaking over the
edge OF the cliff behind her.
"Oh, mother, he's comel Fathers
GOMEZ" cried the boy. "Iles Just
round yander! III bring him in a min
utel"
The woman's haggard face liz mp as
abe ran forward 10 meet him. When
she saw the child she stopped short.
"Why-why. where did that little thing
come hom?" she asked.
~ don't know, mother. Father said
she'd been holding him round the uccl,
| an keepin' him from drowndin'," sale
the boy, and he looked at the shivering
waif with something like awe.
The child sat still on the rock whore
Paul had placed her, and looked from
ono face Ia the other. Her clothes wcr,
fiue and thin. but torn and wet, and hei
tangled curls chung about her thin nocl
like yellow Silk. Her blue eyes wer,
very appealing, and the woman droppet
down on hor knees beside the child witt
q great pang OF pity at her heart.
"oh. you poor, drowned, starvin' lit
tie thingl" she said. whats become OF
your mammyH' The child gazed at her
wonderingly moment, and murmmed
something IN foreign tongue. s<esss's
Mercy" exclaimed the woman. at
can't speak English; it's a foreignerr
n. -. -. =