The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1908-09-10

life-like scene. Well, one day, on my
way home from Edinburgh to enjoy q
short vacation, crossed the ferry al
| Chanonry Point and walked over
these links to the village. The few
people happened to meet were in 2
state of great excitment. The Laird's
only son and heir, young Ralph Sal
toun, had been missing for nearly
two days, and his whereabouts. some
two miles from the village, had been
discovered only a few hours before
my arrival. AS the story was told tc
me, the boy had wandered away
among the hills, and, being overtaken
by a severe storm, had sought shelter
under a ledge high up among the
crags.
Then torrents of rain had fallen
and, finally, landslide had left the
boys retreat almost isolated from
the surrounding crags.
without a moments delay
rushed home, secured my rope and
my dirk and hurried to the scene.
Upon my arrival, was informed that
for some time the best cragsmen In
the village had been wearying their
limbs in vain efforts to rescue the lad.
From above, as you can see, the ledge
was unapproachable on account of the
great forehead of crag that hangs
over 1t. So most Of the rescuers were
trying to scale a precipitous mountain
wall on the east side.
After looking over the ground, I
determined to try it from the oppo-
site side-that is, from the west, al
though, as you can see, the prospect
was not very encouraging. So I
swiftly made my way up this ravine
and was soon scrambling up the
smooth face of this clay parapet
which runs sheer up for one hundred
and fifty feet, and ends abruptly in
this razor-like ridge. To all appear
ances this climb of mine was a daring
and foolhardy feat, and the villagers.
who were spread out among the rocks
and on the seashore beneath, looked
up with astonishmen and alarm.
Even should 1 manage to reach the
crest of the ridge at which was aim
ing, they thought my labor would
certainly be in vain, for between it's
jagged summit and the boy there was
this gorge, fully twenty feet across.
However, with unfiinching courage. l
persevered. 1 dug out step after step
with my dirk. Now l gained a few
feet, then 1 slipped back a few, but
still l pressed upward with feverish
energy. At one time would be fiat
tened out against the face of the cliff,
ri M fv1or Co.
little ledges. and the next moment,
with more favorable surface, / would
be doubled up like a caterpillar and
scrambling upward with the Joy in
my heart that only a cragsman can
understand In this way, after thirty
minutes perilous climbing, I reached
the crest of the ridge, which. as you
see, strikes up into the air like a fin
from flsh's back. On its razor-like
edge sat astride for a minute or two
in order to study my surroundings.
l shouted to the boy, who was only
twenty feet away on the other side
OF the gorge. He was evidently ex-
hausted from exposure and hunger,
and l could hardly hear his faint re-
plies to my shouts of encouragement.
l was then at least three hundred feet
above the base of the cliff Time was
pressing, so l Immediately signaIed
to the cheering people below that
was going to jump the gorge. 1t was
already late in the evening, another
storm was brewing, and l knew that,
in all probability, the ledge and the
overhanging crag would slide down
during the night. The sea-birds, dis
turbed from their accustomed haunts,
were clamoring noisily around me,
and far away on the reefs a fog bell
was pealing it's dismal monotone.
Above me, on the overhanging
crag, the Laird and some of his men
had crawled out and were anxiOusly
watching my movements, while be-
low at the base of the mountain
could just distinguish Maggie and
number of her girl companions, all
gazing upward with heart-breaking
eagerness and suspense.
This glimpse of Maggie watching
my efforts renewed my courage and
strength, and went to work with re-
doubled energy leveling off the razor
like edge on which had been seated.
In this way, soon made a tolerably
fiat and secure run of about thirty
feet. And, DR.. Boyt, while / was
digging away with my dirk, can tell
you my mind was busy. / said to my
self: This jump means death. Well,
what to me Is life without Maggie?
If l fail and fall she will not be
ashamed OF me, she will know that
7 would have rescued the boy II
cpuld, and that do this to eonsecrate
Eiy ppdying affection. As for her