The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-07-16

Next moment I stood on the cliff and
saw the sea, a wide blackness, crawling
| far beneath. Without hesitation walked
| up to the edge, and then commenced rap
| idly skirting the cliff. Twice nv foot dis
lodged stone, and the abyss to my right
must have been profound, as the sound of
/ its fall reached me after a few seconds
and but family
! Then the moon rose slowly out of the
water and when it's neither rim rested on
! the sea | felt an ipulse to stand still. for.
! though / never heard nor saw him, l
knew that Bland was approaching. and
! scarcely had a minute elapsed when a
! figure silently emerged out of the shadow
! OF some rocks about fifty yards off. 1t
| was bland-of this I felt certain long be-
! fore the distance rendered him recogniz-
able. He failed to perceive me at first,
| but as my features became clearer he
muttered something, and l saw his fin
/ grs tightening about his stick His back
was turned to the sea, and the edge of
the cliff but few yards behind him.
Maddened as l was at the sight of him.
! saw my opportunity I saw that VEN
geance lay within my easy grasp There
was no Ii ing soul, far or near. besides
ourselves. I sprang a him-but he. pre-
pared, leapt aside and l reeled with the
force OF my own impetus to the brink of
the abyss. There, for second. I swayed
backward and forward and might have
recovered my equilibrium had not the
edge crumbled away beneath nv Nat
Down teh cliff I slipped. but with the
strength of sheer desperation managed
to twist round before my chest was on
a level with the edge and grasp the
Yielding surface I believe I shrieked to
Bland for assistance, but no assistance
came; Bland had vanished I lost my hold
and fell, or rather slid, for the cliff was
not at once perpendicular. Then came
a sudden shock; my feet had come in con-
tact with jutting stone. and the de-
scent TO certain death-the death I had
destined for Bland-had been momenta-
rily averted.
Paralyzed with terror. I lay almost up
right against the fat side of the cliff.
and when my voice returned. began 20
shout for help, but for an appalling inter
val l heard nothing but the deselate
echoes Of my own voice. Then:
Huilo! So. there you are It was
Bland.
Ny reply-and blush to record twas:
For Gods sake, help me-"
"An right III fetch a rope Ny place
Is only mute OF. Can you hold on ,"
Yes Quick"
Ten minutes passed. and my strength
was almost spent, when BANDS voice
sounded above:
I'm letting down a rope Get tha
moose under your arms and help yourself
Up with your feet. I'll pull Ready"
With infinite peril I managed TO adjust
the moose Then the ascent began. and
for some minutes I would not have given
a penuy-piece for my life or Bland's-my
weight being no mean one. But We did
II. and the next thing remember was
opening my eyes on BANDS face. I was
lying on the cliff
That's right" he said Feel a bit /
shaky and disappointed. eh?"
lie laughed, and I felt too Inundated I
TO reply.
The fortunes OF war. ny dear fellow
he went on; but I vote We cry quits"
I staggered 20 nv feet
You've saved ny life after dishonorinE J
it, I said. i shall ask no further salts I
faction"
Much the best plan" he retorted. 4
laughing. Good night.
But have never forgiven him. as I
said before--PIck Ne Up.