The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-12-23

II was not an instant roo soon.
felt the wet rope slipping through my
hands. Leaving go with one hand
clutched out wildly for the knotted
rope. and by the happiest chance sue
ceeded in selling H.
j got q crOss-piece between my feet
and was comparatively safe. II LON
had strength 10 hold on for a few mo-
ments. But that I might not take her
too greatly, i still gasped the wet
rope.
"savedw called out 10 her.
"Not for long" shouted Van Hoeck
from the opposite side. and heard
the snap OF the spring ishe closed the
breechloader, and then the "click" az
he cooked the piece.
Would he shoot me or the girl?
asked myself in that moment.
He fred, and the ringing shot was
followed by n sharp cry Of pain from
above, and the crosspiece on which ]
stood gave little jerk. but 10 more.
She must have escaped. despite that
cry. or she could not still have held on
TO the rope.
But terrible as these thoughts that
passed through my mind in those brief
moments were, they were banished
from my mind by yet more terrific
appeal 10 my senses.
Following almost Immediately upon
the crack Of the rife and Lola's cry,
"A mass OF rock, probably disintegrated
by the frost, and started from its place
by the reyerberation of the shot, slid
down the face Of the precipice, burtled
against rock, and some moments
after fell with a deep pong into the
water below.
But as this had been the keystone Of
the fabric that upheld the mighty
weight OF the enormous rock that
covered the chasm. It's fall was fol-
lowed by the crumbling away and pre-
cipitatiOn Of others at intervals rapidly
coming a continued downpour, marked
now and then by q louder crash as
some larger block gave way.
The roar Of artillery, the peal Of
thunder was not 10 be compared with
the awful din as the great rock jerked
downward as the quartz spiintered
and gave way under il, shattering and
grinding the opposing rocks, and hurst
ing away huge fragments that struck
from side 10 side as they hurtled down,
tearing and splitting the very heart Of
the mountain, az il seemed.
The fall was most violent at some
distance away from Us further down
the rayinc; only an occasional block,
ground under the great mass as il
jerked down, was shattered 10 pieces,
ana fell in dust and rubblc about US.
But our turn was AZ hand
1t seemed 10 me as if the last day
haI come, and the world were crumb-
ling TO pieces. 70 the terror Of an
earthquake was added the horror OF
impenetrable darkness and the con-
sciousness that the gigantic rock that
vaulted the abyss was slowly jerking
down upon us. ] must have kept my
hold upon the rock by instinct; i had
no consciouSncSs Of volition.
The awful eruption had continued for
some moments-sCarcely 50 long as
one might take TO read this descrip
tion-with increasing intensity, when
suddenly, with an appalling crash, the
great roof tilted up. ] saw the earth
slowly cape open above me, letting in
the binding sunlight; and then the
upper lip of the Jagged rock reaching
its highest elevation shot sidelong
away. making visible the long strip
of blue heaven between the towering
peaks OF the mountain.
One last pong as the rock wedged
itself afresh lower down the precipice.
and then all was still. The sight of
the blue sky, the sense of relief. We're
too much for me. trembled violently,
ana for n moment ] thought i must
relinquish my hold. But a piteous cry
from Lola neryed me TO fresh effort.
saw now the two cut ropes, and,
grasping one in each hand. drew my
self up. using the knotted rope as
slightly as | could; and 50 presently !
scrambled upon the ledge
Lola was upon the ground drawn
passed the kuottcd cord. The ball had
struck her and she had fallen. but the
devoted girl had passed the moose
around her body, and SO saved my life
for the second time. ! knelt beside
her, and raised her head. She opened
took my hand. She could do 10 more.