Year: 1869

curlcw. How long chung to the branch,
l do not know. Fortunately the water
was not cold. The clouds had cleared
away, and the moon, near the full, shono
brightly Had it been dark, my courage
must have givcnw and should most
probably have sunk. But as IL was.I can.
not say that quite dcspaircd of rescue In
some way or other. Ii could only hold
out till morning, some one might | CON
iocturcd, come for the purpose of carrying
away the turf sods, and might sec my coat
and gun, which would lead them to
search. | had not much hope in any
search from the village had started in
the direction Of the cliffs, my iavoritc even.
ing haunt, and lAnccd that would be the
direction the searchcrs would take. As
the night wore on---oh, so slowly-with
the moon So clamly gliding through the
stars above me, | fell into u kind Of stupor,
and can distinctly remember repeating
scraps of verses totally unconnccted with
each other. From this state, was aroused
by the loud note of some night bird, prob
| ably an owl, and found my arms very stiff
| from holding on to the root while my
legs felt like weights of lead suspended be.
meath me. While trying to change my
position, l fancied | heard the gurgling
sound of running water, and that not far
of listened intcntly, and found 1t was
no fancy. Water was evidently running
into the pool, and saw by the root was
clinging to that the water had risen some
inches.


A cheering hope sprang up within me,
as 1t flashed across my mind that the tide
must be rising, and that the pool must
have an outlet into the river.


The thought infused new life into me,
on I OF Ia, hn
sound. Then, to my intense Joy, | saw
distinctly, in the clear moonlight, that the
water was streaming in fast through
several small inlcts and pouring in quietly
and steadily, through one of the bitches
had previously swan up. | knew that il
the tide rose another foot or eighteen
inches, could by ueading water fast,
spring up so high as to be able 20 catch
hold of the top Of the bank and so swing
myself up. | knew also that the water
could not possibly begin to flow into the
bog pools until it was nearly high tide
Returning TO my resting place, watched
anxiously, the prospect of speedy deliver
ancc banishing all wearincss, The
water continued to pour in steadily
and in greater volume, The dawn
was now breaking, and l had not
much longer to wait The water had
CCdSeu uOMluS, anu INC udnk Ill ono
place was barely five feet above the water
Taking long BREATH l let myself sink
low, and then treadng water as strongly
and quickly as possible, l threw half my
body above the surface of the pool, and
caught the top with one hand. Before the
soft earth had time to crumblo beneath my
weight, had obtained firmer grasp with
the other hand, and in another moment
stood on the moss-saved, drinking in
with eager gasps the fresh air OF the morn
ing.


Tho white haze was rapidly clearing
away, and through it saw five or six
| men hurrying towards me. rt.i p l.r-'
l have a,oonfuscd idea of being helped
to my lodgings and of afterwards telling
my adventure to many eager questioners
The soaking had had, and the ,expesc-
ure to the unhealthy mists W hich rise from
the morass In the night, caused an illness
for time, hut the effects soon wore off.
The heron is stuffed, and adorns my
cabinet, unconscious of the revenge which
| overlook its destroyer Chambers Journdl