The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-12-11

belt being strong and firm, the attrac- ton was sufficient to hold me as firmly as though I had been bound with triple chains.
 This discovery at once disabused my mind of the dread mystery which had at first taken possession or me, ana showed me that my condition was que to a perfectly rational and eXplalnaple cause I was well acquainted with the qualities of magnetic iron ore, or lode stone, and had frequently amused my self by experimenting with It's attrac- ton for iron and steel. Now, the cause of my Imprisonment. or impalement, was plain, but the discovery oid not Ut all relieve me. True. was rid of the horror which seized meNwhen thought I was held prisoner by some unnatural and devilish power, but was none the less A prisoner, for all that and l was as helpless as I was before the true state of affairs became apparent
 Finding that I was unable to fire a nistol to attract attention, tried the effect of shouting at the top of a>toler- ably strong voice. l knew that the chances were as a thousand to one against either of my companions being within sound of my voice, but there
 
 exerted my voice till was hoarse. but without result. was alone. and. to add to my sufferings. night was fast approaching. Already the side of the wall on which I hung was in shadow and I could see that the sun had gone behind the mountains on the west.
 The thought of being thus suspend ed between heaven and earth. helpless and powerless, through the long hours of the night was almost too much for my nerves. I knew that my compan- ions would not become alarmed at my absence until night came on. and then 1t would be impossible for them to trace me. or make any effort to find my whereabouts. I knew. also. that with inc earliest dawn they would trace me out for Harry was somewhat of ar. expert at following trail, and tried to solace myself with the certainty that fhey would find some means of rescu- ing me early in the ensuing day.
 But before that relief could come
 many long and dreary hours must pass, and I shuddered with inexpressi- hIe dread at the prospect before me If I had been simply lost amid the mountains could have found a safe place to rest and sleep with the feel ing that I would find my way out witb the coming of daylight, but l was a prisoner, bound in such manner as no other human being ever experienced. Added to the dangers of my condition was the fact that there was no way of resting myself. There was no projec- tion upon which I could rest my feet. and no crag or crevice to which ] could cling with my hands to relieve the tension on my waist This became almost intolerable as the night wore on. but physical pain was not the worst of my suffeuings. l think my mind wandered at times with the strain. for all the events which ap- peared to pass could not have been real. Sometimes I fancted that the waters were agitated. and imagined that huge serpents or other monsters had discovered and were coming to deyour me. Again the air was filled with noises like the Tapping of gigan- tic wings. and thought of the terri ble prehistoric flying animals of which I had read, and almost fancied that I could see their shapes lowering about me waiting for @ chance to bounce on and destroy me. It is prob able that heard no sounds except the ordinary sounds of the forest, but my disordered imagination peopled the air and waters with "Gorgons. hydras and chimeraz dire" and the wonder ii