Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-08-08

4
with sudden terror. Luckily, my boy
ish proclivities-ho they stood me in
stead now-had given me fairly
good sailors head, 30 that the momen-
tary experience Of dizziness soon passed.
1 looked upward, and raised myself inch
by inch and foot by foot. Were these
rocks going to rise up on either side Of
me for ever and everf Ny arms were
beginning TO ache by reason Of the con-
tinuous strain upon them. II some sort
Of resting place did not soon present IL
self, il could not be possible for human
endurance to hold out much longer.
| Then, horror Of horrors. the walls OF
rock began to bear away from one an
other, and the strain upon me was more
than mortal man could endure II was
Just toss up with me then. must
screw my courage up TO making some
supreme effort or else drop to swift de-
struction, for realized the impossible
ity of descending again-it would take
more muscular effort to stay myself de-
scending than il had done 10 raise me
TO that height, and was utterly ex-
hausted
"God help mel" cried, and II was
the sincerest prayer ] ever breathed.
Then remember noticing such trivial
| things rs the widening of the rent across
the knee Of my left trousers leg; that
there was small flower Of pale blue
color which had never noticed before
| growing in cleft of the rock right
alongside; that just round the edge Of
| the rock shaft of sunlight fell, and
that there were a good many quartz
pebbles studded through the rock. Ialso
| began 70 think that the world was very
beautiful and life very sweet ] thought
OF those in the cave and Of those who
were dear to me on the other side Of the
world Truly there is nothing swifter
than thought In that critical moment
| / lived lifetime Of normal existence.
Moreover, my brain was sensitized
plate that received and recorded the
most trivial details around me.
I looked upward and set my teeth,
telling myself there must be some rest
ing place within a foot or two, and
there was Another foot higher still
and my body was stretched as on q
rack. Truly Providence helps those who
help themselves. That blessed ledge
was reached did not hesitate one siu'
gle instant, but hurled myself on to IL
with what little strength had left l
clung to and rolled on to it, then lay on
my back for few moments to rest and
regain the use Of my limbs. II was as
II some one had suddenly snatched me
from the jaws Of death. But WAS the
danger over yeti Approximately look
ed around. The face Of the cliff was
rugged but retresting and was covered
with dense. creeping plants Compared
to that which had Just been accom-
plished. what remained TO be done
seemed mere child's play. ! rose from
my recumbent position on the ledge
and began to ascend again. II was now
comparatively easy work. In places |
scrambled up without any trouble or
raised myself by the ivylike vines that
grew against the rocks. And then a.
last stood on the summit, where one
Of the most wonderful panoramas that
ever the eye Of man looked upon was
stretched out before me.
took the pocket handkerchief from
of my neck. and putting stone in 1t
sent il flying down in the direction OF
the crevasse. II was TO be a signal TO |
SNOWFALL that l had made the ascent !
safely and the coast was clear
The sun had come out strong and
the heat was oppressive. took south |
easterly course. II was comparatively |
easy travelling, so that my progress was
considerable. Still. / noticed snat the |
sky looked threatening away TO the
south and feared thunderstorm, as IL
must necessarily mean delay. felt as
if new lease Of life had been granted |
me Ny spirits rose, and / went al |
most merrily along must have trsv.
eled for at least couple Of hours when
suddenly there came check. l bad
come to a little ironstone ridge, ard
ascending it to have look around saw
omething that made me draw back in
terror and instinctively look for hid
ing place.
1t was little above where the river
entered into the amphitheaterlike val
ley, overlooking a narrow gorge, and
there, all along the brink, were great
number Of savages. There might have
been hundred or more, and they APP |
peared as if waiting patiently for some
thing that was to pass through 1t un-
derneath them. The situation flashed
upon me in second. The squatter's
party had been seen coming. and they |
were lying in wait to effect surprise.
But the savages had reckoned without
their host
There was an ominous blackness now
away TO the south and at intervals a
subdued rumbling in the air. The first
of the great thunderstorms had begun in
that part of the country.
My pace was quickened till at last it
broke into run. knew that the blacks
must have been told by some signal fire
that the squatter was coming, which
doubtless had caused them to take up 3
their present position.
1t was midday. The heat was in
tense, the air was sitting, but hurried
on. One of my boots had given way
and was vaguely conscious OF the fact
that the foot was chafed and bleeding.
But still, after all, that was a minor
a II nd
dead with anxiety and fatigue, but
there was still some work left in the
human machine.
Away 10 the sonth the heavens had
become inky black. At last stood on i
the edge of a gully which led right
down to the valley through which fow-
ed the creek, and there saw on the OPP
posite bank sight that made my heart
throb wildly. 1t was that OF several
horsemen with a mob of pack horses. !
shouted aloud in my joy, for it meant
deliverance to those in the cave.
There was an ominous murmur in
the air, and that grim, all enveloping, !
inky cloud travelled up swiftly from /
the south There was something sinister |
and portentous, suggestion OF sup |
pressed force and fury. in the way it
came rushing on that made one think J
of some horrible nameless thing con-
serving its strength with evil intent.
Though all around was peaceful and
the sun shone fercely down, yet from
that cloud there came noise as OF the
rushing of a mighty wind 1t was al