Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1901-07-11


IN q minute, when l began TO
think that / was getting near the
rope, | remembered the place where
the water approached the cliff 30
closely. Involuntarily halted.
could never pass that point. Bnt
must-it was my only chance of
saving myself. Again l plunged
forward.
Suddenly vast increasing roar,
like that of distant thunder, but
infinitely greater in volume, filed
the canon. At the same time q
jagged fash of lightning split the
heavens and zigzagged among the
cliffs. lighting up everything for :
moment in barbaric splendor.
In that one instant | saw a rush
ing wall of water, the result of q
cloudburst further up the river,
sweeping down the stream, Kissing
and roaring like q monster, fully
three feet in height and filing the
canon from wall to wall. The
wave was almost upon me. could
never reach the rope; | would be
carried to destruction on the crest
OF that fearful thing.
The same flash of lightning
brought again to my eyes the
steeple-shaped rock rising out of
the water. It was not six feet from
where stood. Almost involuntari-
ly, | made rush for the rock. Il
stood in deeper water; sank al
most to my waist, but / reached
it.
just as / did so the first section
OF the wave struck me. was al
most carried away by the wild force
OF the current which swept upon
me. Had not my feet been we'll
planted, / would most assuredly
have been carried away. As it was
for q full minute tottered, and
once | thought I was lost, but / re-
covered, and throwing myself for
ward, clutched the rock, just as the
main wave reached me and CON-
pletely submerged me. 1t required
all my strength to hold to the rock.
l could feel my fingers slipping,
the water strangled me, but finally
| got q frmer hold, and gradually
drawing myself around, reached
the sheltered side of the rock.
There, protected from the force
OF the stream, was able to work
my way gradually up the steep rock.
Finally, after much wearisome toll,
| was crouched in very uncomfor-
table position upon the side of the
rock, with my arms locked about
it. but out of the water.
Not only was my position un-
comfortable, but is was very diff
cult to maintain, as I could only
get the slightest hold for my feet,
and almost my entire weight was
thrown upon my arms but even
this was infinitely better than to be
struggling in that black river. /
don't know how long / remained in
that cramped, uncomfortable posi-
ton, scarcely moving a muscle. Il
must not have been a great while,
but to me it was an age. My arms
became stiff and my whole body
ached; but it was life or death, aud
| clung tenaciously to the rock.
The rain beat down upon me, the
spray was dashed about me, but 1
never once relinqnished my clasp.
At first my whole body was above
the water, but directly / felt the
angry waves swishing about my
feet; and soon my knees we're under
water. The river vas yet rapidly
rising.
was possessed OF aa unreason-
ing horror for the water, and drew
mp my legs till was doubled like a
jack-knife to keep out Of it. bat it
followed me, and when could
crawl no higher, it still contin ued
rising. Helpless. l felt it gradual
ly crawl up my body, each succeed
ing wave tapping little higher
than the one before. The water
was icily cold, aud. as il crawIed
upward, it rendered my body numb
and feelingless, 80 that could
hardly cling TO the rock.
Finally there was rush . little
stronger than usual. my legs were
dislodgei from their pre- ,arious
perch, the strong current got be-
meath them and swept them out
from the rock. Thus / was left
with only the clasp of my aching