The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1908-07-15
build an immense iron basket which

could be drawn from shore to shore
over the cable, by means of ropes ant
a windlass on each bank. This wa!
intended to carry the tools, and ever
the men themselves, to and fro.
The boys hardly found time to ea'
their meals during these days. The
afternoon the basket was being fin
ished George was obliged to pile &
cord OF wood, and Alex volunteered
to help him. 1t was late when they
finished. but the next morning found
them again at the bridge
Now, boys" said the engineer, as
he showed the completed basket
''since you helped us so we'll with our
cable, think you should be allowed
to make the first trip across the
/ river. Would you like TOT"
Without stopping to consider, they
both exclaimed, Yes, indeed" think
ing only of the glory of the feat.
"All right, jump in" was the re-
sponse, and the workmen drew the
basket close to the shore.
If their hearts misgave them MOTH
ing could have induced them to show
1t now.
They settled themselves in the bas-
ket, which was deep and large
enough to hold both comfortably.
Then the signal was given and the
men on the farther shore began to
turn the windlass. The basket
moved slowly forward and the boys
waved their caps to the men.
At first the excitement of the ad-
venture kept their spirits at high
pitch. The basket went forward
steadily, but it swayed back and
forth below the cable with a motion
which was not altogether agreeable.
The boys had lived near the falls all
their lives and its noise was a famil-
lar sound. but now. for the first time,
the terrific roar of the water inn
pressed them with its mighty force
and power.
George looked off to the falls.
Never before had they seemed Of
such immense height. The view was
new one. Then he looked down.
One hundred and sixty feet below
him was the roaring. seething mass
of water, and he felt suddenly faint
and sick. He glanced at the cable;
it seemed like a thread, measured by
the space beneath, and It was, all that
held them over that awful chasm. He
could hear the water chuIn and surge
below him, but he dared not look
down again. Alex was as viii as a
ghost George glanced ahead at the
farther shore; they had not gone one
third of the distance, and It was
twelve hundred feet from shore to
shore. The distance was appalling.
He grew dizzy again and curlcd down
in the hottom of the basket. 1t
seemed hours that he lay there. AT
last ne looked up; the sky seemed
nearer than the water, and SO he kept
his eyes on the floating clouds. Grad
ually he began to feel better
Alex, he said, I'VE must be
brave. We are nearly to shore, and
we don't want to show the white
feather. Keep your eyes on the SKY,
but sit up"
Alex did as he suggested, and
when they finally neared the shore
they were able to respond to the
cheers and greetings of the men. But
the JOY of landing was completely
swallowed up by the thought of the
return trip. Still, there was no al
tentative, and pride made them try
to hide their feelings from the men.
After rest of about ten minutes
the workmen made ready to start the
basket back. The boys stepping in,
setting their teeth hard. and shout
ing farewell which stuck hard in
their throats.
The basket swung OFF again, but,
though the motion was as unpleasant
as ever, and the roar of the water
was as great, they had learned to
look skyward, and the giddiness was
not so great. At last they heard
voices from the shore, and bracing
themselves they looked forward.
They were so near that they could
see among the throng on the bank
the white faces OF Georges father
and mother, looking stern and anx-
ious. But so limp and white did the
boys look, as they stepped ashore.
that 1t was thought they had been
punished enough.
The crowd OF boys shouted and
never tired of having Alex and
George tell of their wonderful trip.
Washington Star.