Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1906-10-26
MY UNCLE'S LEAP.
From the New york weekly.

DSautildi part VI "diSo, eAN "NN '~
!; was only a mile or two from the coast
In that nelghborhood, very wild and pre-
cipitous, and remarkable for the peculiar
character OF the strata of which many OF
the wave and weather-beaten cliffs were
composed.
My uncle was a keen geologist. and had
Imbued me with some OF his own inter
tst in the subject; and many a long and
pleasant ramble we had together, armed
with our little hammers and specimen
cases.
During one Of my visits to my uncle, he
mad at the tine as guests two profess
sional biologists of some eminence, who
had heard OF the special facilities the
neighborhood afforded for the pursuit Of
their favorite science.
For the first day or two, we contented
ourselves with showing the strangers the
features of scientific interest more imme-
diately in the vicinity; and with these
they were greatly gratiied. But my uncle
was anxious that they should inspect a
district some miles off, peculiarly rich in
specimens, and which he had himself Wis
tied several years before, but never since
/ had been the companion of his expedi-
tons; therefore, 1t was new to me, as
well as to our guests.
Everything was arranged for our start,
and we set off after an early breakfast,
driving the first portion of the distance,
and putting up our trap ut a farm house,
to await our return, while we pursued the
remainder OF our excursion on foot.
Our expedition was a great success.
Many rare specimens of different fossils
were added to our collections. and my
uncle was much g~ratified that his exer-
lions for the entertainment of his guests
had been so satisfactorily rewarded.
We were all experienced climbers, so
the risk was disregarded, and the two
biologists and my uncle had just turned
round a rather sharp angle, and l was
closely following, when the rock on which
l trod suddenly gave way under my feet,
and, after a brief, but Intellectual struggle,
l slipped down. with my face toward the,
sea.
Uttering a cry. I instinctively flung my
hands upward. One Of them, in some
marvellous manner, caught a projecting
portion of the ledge; the other was strong
iy grasped by my uncle, who, being merci-
fully close to me. turned at my shout, and
instantly seized hold of my extended hand.
For two or three minutes, which seemed
an eternity TO us both, my brave relative.
who, though an elderly, was a very pow
erful man, held ms suspended in this
frightful manner, while he endeavored
to take in the situation, and decide on a
plan OF action.
Our Mortified friends were powerless TO
help. as they could not possibly get near
me On account Of the narrowness Of the
ledge, which afforded even my uncle a
most precarious footing. and endered USE
less any attempt to raise me from my
dreadful position.
l was young, and life was very sweet to
me; but | felt that my last moment was at
hand. Another second or two must end
the matter go GpXarG4 a cfraip DD,,ll No
longer be endured; our hands mus. loosen
Their hold, and I must inevitably be
dashed to pieces on the broken rocks / had
observed at the foot OF the precipice.
There was an instant of GREATNESS sill
ence, during which time my uncle had
clearly realized the critical nature of the
situation and decided on a plan of action.
looked over, and saw that, just below the
spot where | was suspended, there was a
rugged projection of rock, extending fully
SIX feet beyond the perpendicular of the
point where l hung. If / fell on this. my
fate was sealed no power could save me
from death. Beyond this rock was water,
possibly of a depth sufficient to break the
force of the fall. IL that water could only
be reached; but in this lay all the diff
Guilty.
My uncle was a good, as Well as a brave,
man; he loved me as the son Of a dead
sister, and he was willing to dare every
thing to save me; but he did not under,
value the nature Of the awful risk he was
undertaking on my behalf, and he knew
that he was going to take his own life
In his hands, as well as mine. Breathing
a prayer for divine protection, he said
quietly, but firmly:
Tom, there is but one way for II. ri
save you, or we will both perish together!
When L say the word, take your hand
from the ~rock-now!"
AS my uncle loudly said Now" I re-
Taxed my hold of the rock: and, at tho
same instant, my uncle made an immense
effort, and sprang horizontally into the air,
carrying me with him, and, retaining his
hold OF my hand as we rushed violently
down, turning over in our ~headlong de,
scent. 1 cannot pretend to say that / ever
very distinctly recollected my sensations
during those awful seconds for Ii was
nothing more. / had my senses pretty
clearly while / hung from the rock, and ]
can recall the gasping feeling which / ex,
perienced as / took my hand away; but
beyond that, all Is chaos.
So great was the force with which mn
uncle leaped. that he completely cleared
the projecting ledge, and we fell into thu
sea, which was deep enough to break our
fall, though the violence of the shock un,
ioosed our grasp OF each other. Hall
stunned as we were, the cold water prob
ably acted as a restorative. We were both
excellent swimmers, and, a moment OF
two later, we were breasting the waves,
fortunately not too boisterous for our
sorely tried strength. We rose about
twenty yards apart, at some little distance
from the rocky ledge. and rather near 4
fiattish rock which reared its head from
the pillows. For Inis shelter we madei
and too deep for utterance were the feel.
lngs with which we took each Others
hands, and gazed into each others eyes.
Thank God! my boyi'' at last said my
uncle fervently.
II do, uncle; and you too. Where should
/ have been now, but for you!'
Hush Tom. Thank God. we're both
safe. 1t was a perilous jump. no doubt of
that"
We both shuddered as we gazed on the
precipice frowning above US, on the tor
of which we could see our two so recently
horror-stricken friends. wildly waving
their hats I'm a transport of joy at their
discovery Of US on the rock. apparently
safe and sound. A hearty cheer in reply
assured them of our perfect safety; and
then my uncle shouted to them some d.
rections as to the course they were to pur-
sue in e~ndeavoring to procure assistance
for cur rescue. Owing to the width OF tho
ledge broken off where l fell, tseir return
by the same route was impossible: and a
long and perilous walk mad to be under
taken before they were themselves in