Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-06-14

ite," broken by his movements, rolled
over the ledge, and, bounding from
the rocks, actually grazed the knee of
the boy below. We saw Jack, on
reaching the ledge, lean cautiously for
ward and note the position of the boy.
Then he drew down the rope from
above, and, Weighing it, lowered it
carefully. 1t slid down like serpent,
slowly, and we watched breathlessly
to see whether it would be within
reach of the lads arm, for we saw
that he could not move from his place
ut all to grasp it. An involuntary
shout went up from the increasing
crowd in the Gallon when it slipped
over his shoulder and into his lap. We
saw him wind it twice around his
body, fasten it securely, and gave the
signal to his father, who passed it
on to Jack, and he to the men above.
AS the rope frightened, the boy slowly
rose to his feet, and we saw with re-
lief that his legs were not broken, as
we had feared. He had remained mo-
tionless all those hong hours because
his feet rested on two little inches so
narrow that he dared not alter his
position an inch.
Instead of drawing him to the top,
we soon saw that they were directing
him to the left toward the rock upon
which his father was, and which,
dangerous though it was, still had been
reached by him from below. The
nf fho oil ND fn1lNr,a1
movements of the boy, as, encouraged
again, and supported by the rope, he
pluckily made his way around the pro-
jecting cliff. pushing his body with
arms and legs away from the rocks,
that the rope might hang free from
above. Avoiding any look into the
depths below, his eyes sought that
pale but kindly face SO far above.
Mine never swerved from the slender
figure up there moving steadily to the
left with the rope upon the dizzy and
constantly narrowing ledge above the
boy. After some minutes of perilous
climbing-minutes that seemed as long
rs hours-the father, with eager,
reaching arms, seized the boy, and
drew him to the comparatively safe
point upon which he stood waiting.
A great shout rang out. My quiet
little black-robed neighbor buried her
face in her baby's breast. Jack waved
his cap, and the men on top, who could
not see what was going on. looked at
one another with relief. Then, after
colloquy, instead of drawing them
both to the top, Jack let down q rope,
and in few minutes father and son,
tied fast together, began their long,
dangerous descent; and Jack, winding
another rope around him, was drawn
by glad, strong hands to the top. Wav-
ing his hat again to me, he disappear
ed. So slow was the progress of the
man and boy before us that before
they had gone more than quarter of
the distance the rescuers were down.
Clinging with their hands and feet
for they had thrown down their shoes
the father, holding the rope, would
aid the boy to n place of safety, and
then follow unsupported himself. AT
last they neared the foot; the poor
tortured mother climbed, baby in arm,
up the first slope, and stood waiting
to meet them at the shoulder of rock
around which they must come. jack
his face white and drawn with fatigue
and excitement, so filed my mind and
thoughts that I scarcely saw the little
mother as she quietly but with deepest
feeling called down Gods blessing on
my gallant husband, or the father
when he seized his hand with manly
grasp and turned hastily away without
being able to speak.-The New Voice