The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-01


first ladder on the outside of the tower,
ana We were soon out on the landing
or ledge above, from which a second
ladder led upwards. One of the me-
groes was standing on the bottom rung
as though he had made up his mind
TO make the climb. I laughed at his
timorous attitude whereupon he got
off altogether.
Whats the trouble? Can't you do
it?' Roland asked him. The black man
knew Roland. and he rolled his eyes
and replied in voice that shook with
fear: Mr.. Roland, II l had known
was this far from the ground when I
first came up here, l would never have
told that man l would take the job
We'll, If you feel like quitting, we
Will finish 1t for you, and give you
something for the use of your ladders
continued Roland.
Yes, ~ahi yes, sah;" cried the black
man, eagerly; you can have the job
and ladders, too, just as long as you
want them"
"All right, then. Where is your flag"
asked.
Picking up the flag, which was tightly
rolled round its stick, | proceeded to as
cend the ladder. Roland following closely
at my heels. On reaching the top, I
turned to Bob and cautioned him to be
careful for the top ladder was resting
none too securely.
You had better hold onto the bottom
OF this while | am going up, Bob,
said: there's no room for any shaky
business here
What's wrong?" asked Roland. You
amt going to get nervous, are you?'
No, but you know the proverb about
prevention, don't you? Well just exer-
else little Of it here, and there will be
no necessity for cure
.,I,, 4
he replied.
The Ladder Slips
Cautiously | began the ascent of the
iast ladder, and was about to put my
hand on the top rung when, in some un-
accountable way, my knee hit against a
rung, Jarring the ladder so that the top
slipped from it's resting place, and
brought up with jerk just about an
lnch from the edge, one upright hanging,
about five inches outside and over the
cornice. There, with me clinging to the
smooth surface of the tower-ready to
pitch to the yard below. a distance Of
over 100 feet, at my slightest move.
did not know just what kept me from
going the whole distance until Roland
told me later, and showed me what a fix
| had been in. / knew I was ON a shalx-
ing ladder, and that 1t had only one up
right on anything solid, for I could tell
by the way the other one quivered that
1t was out over the edge. I dared not
look down; in fact, | am very much un-
der the Impression that for some time |
did not dare to breathe.
All sorts of thoughts passed through
my mind but l think the chief was rs
to whether my mother, wife or kiddie
would ever see me alive Sagain. The
pavement was very far down, the
stones so dreadfully hard
Just then Bobs voice came up to me,
and 1t was as steady as though neither
of us were in the slightest danger
GO on up, KID" he said; don't look
down, but go on up; it's safest. I won't
let you fall. | have got you so that you
can't slip any further. but go slow"
Still retaining my hold of the flag,
which held between my teeth, / be-
gan to go up again, though my nerves
were on edge. If the ladder slipped
again---and 1t had such a very little
way to go! The distance, fortunately
for me, was short and was soon ira
versed. To reach the point / was pak-
ing for, / had to stand on the fvery
top of the ladder, in order to reac ch
an opening above my head. Putting
my hand In and grasping thS edge
firmly, | pulled myself up the face of
the clock, trying hard to put no strain
on the ladder. When / reached the
foot of the statue, / was only too glad
to rest for a minute on its pedestal
Roland, I discovered later, had held the
ladder in place all this time by main
strength, aided by that invaluable
quality that, In western parlance, Is
commonly called sand"