Year: 1861

until the nsxt Gay.


THE SAMPHIRE GATHBRER's STORY


''It was here, sir, that Mr.. Clements de-
seended."


"How fearful exclaimed, scarcely ven-
turing to look down preoipioe at least six
hundred feet deep.


To reseat in a few words what had occupied
nearly an hour, and emitting his numerous
digrsssions, the samphire gatherer's tale ran
thus:


At the close of the last century, he and his
father, samphire gatherers by trade, had as
sisted in lowering one Mr.. Clements down the
cliff under rather extraordinary circumstances.
Mr.. Clements was then returning home along
the downs from the then retired but now fash
ionable town Of, when he recognized a
boat mile from the shore, strongly resembling
one In which his wife and sister were. in the
frequent habit Of passing hours, in little bay
or inlet Of the sea near his house. He fastened
home, only to have all doubts removed as to
their identity; and hurrying back to the spot
where he had first observed them, found to
his extreme terror, that the boat had been de-
serted by its occupants, who had been seen
wandering on the rocks beneath the cliff. To
approach them by the sea, on either side, in
time to rescue them from their impending
danger, was impossible. The tide was rising
fast, their destruction seemed inevitable. In
this emergency, the samphire gatherers were
thought Of and sought for; and, declining all
their offers, Clements insisted upen descend
ing the cliff, in hope Of placing his wife and
sister upon some rock or spot where they might
remain in safety till the arrival of the boats
from -. Thus far had the samphire gath
erer got to his story, which he was relating to
me as we strolled along the cliffs, when he
paused, as l have already mentioned above,
and pointed to the spot where Mr.. Clements
descended.


Following his example, and taking seat on
the grass near him, the old man continued his
tale. give it in his own verbs


We'll, sir, when we found we could not per-
suade him to let one of US go down in his place,
father, as usual, secured a crowbar into the
earth, few feet froP the edge of the cliff,
and then, twining the rope once around it in
order to give US steadier hold on Mr.. Glenn
ents, fastened 1t under his arms. We then
made him change his coat for one Of our frocks,
such as you see the common people wear in
these parts; and taught him how to put his
feet steadily against the sides of the clif-asit
were thus; and made him take the rope in his
hands just above the knot and told him to lean
eIt as Tar as he possibly could, and to work
downwards with bis feet and look up, and keep
a lookout for the stones and rubbish which the
roDe might dislodge. We told him all this
cir, and bade him not be frightened at the
birds. as they would not harm him; the sun
had Sc, SIR and they always made a horrible
screeching If you 90 down the cliffs after they
had gone to -oost; and that if he altered his
mind and wished to come back he had only
TO give the rope a couple of pulls AID we'd
haul him back. No, no. said Mr.. Clements,
there's no necessity for that When get to
the bottom wait for quarter Of an hour; if at
the end of that time give signal for you
to pull me up, you will know that the ladies
are safe, and then make what haste you can
and get boat from. / am ready now
says he in faint voice. and his teeth all the
while chattering with fear. Never was a man
g.. .o1 L. ~ Nl.A.
sir, father and once more lifted the rope and
Mr.. Clements leaned back over the edge Of
edge Of the elf. Down he went and we soon
lost sight Of him.


Working with his feet, as father had told
him, we slowly supplying the rope as he re-
quired it, he moved safely down for bit, then
he rested on jutting rock. All this time he
kept his eyes on the sky. Pressing cautiously
with his feet against the chalk, his body at al
most triangles with the cliff his hands grasp
ing the rope or sheltering his face from the
shower of stones and dirt which il dislodeed
He had got about a hundred feet from the top
when, suddenly slipping from the cliff, his
chest and face were thrown violently against
1t. lie endeaTored TO regain his footing against
the rocks, and in so doing broke through a res
Olution he had formed, and looked beneath
him. 1t was rare sight, that for the first time
Well do l remember how my head swan as |
looked at the water far, far below; and the
waves that one could see. but not hear they
broke over the singles. Presence Of mind, on
which he had 80 vaunted himself, where was il
now? He was about to pull the rope, but he
thought OF his poor wife and sister and that was
enough. On he went. To regain footing was
impossible. Father and 1 kept gradually
lowering the rope; and with his face to the
cliff, his hands outstretched, catching at each
object as he passed; enveloped in a shower of
stones and chalk, while he had not the strength
70 avoid; grasping and painting for breath, poor
Mr.. Clements Sided down for another hundred
feet Here the cliff arched inwards forming
an immense hollow, like yonder rock sir and
swinging to and fro, and round and round, as
IL were between heaven and earth down he
went Atone moment the wide ocean met his
dizzy gaze; and at another hOcks of startled
birds few around his head, uttering their shrilI
and angry cries. Again, sir, he found himself
sliding down against the side of the cliff his
flesh all sore and torn, and his body and arms
IN absolute orture from the pressure Of the
rope. Again, in agony, be made frantic ef
fort to gain footing; but in so doing, fastened
one OF his legs In narrow issure or opening in
the rock. Vain was the struggle TO release it.
siri mr. Clements was either too weak and
faint, or the limb too firmly secured in the
rock. All his efforts were useless; and shud-
continued supplying the rope. Hanging by
the leg, head downwards, there he lay; the cor
morants and news fitting around him and
joining in bis frightful shrieks.


Horrible! f! was he long thus 7'


"Not long, sir. Father soon discovered that
there was no weight or pull upon the rope, and
surmising from his experience what had occur.
red. We raised IL few feet and released Mr..
Clements from his painful situation. From
that moment he told me he was uncon scious az
to whether he was ascending or descending,
until he heard his name called In faint voice.
He opened his eyes. Wehad lowered him over
the arch of an immense cavern, within which
all was darkness The sea was rolling in be-
meath him; his feet touched 1t; be felt that he
must either swim or drown; he feebly grasped
the rope; thrill Of joy ran through his veins
as he found an unexpected footing on q rock,
concealed by waves, In about three feet of wa.
ter; the depth around for the present mattered
not. He remained for a few moments motion.
less on the rock. His name was again called:
the sound came from the interior of the cave.


Extricating himselffrom the rope, he m ade
an effort to swim; he found that he had more
strength than ne had thought; swan forward
through the darkness of the cavern: he strpr-
gled-sank-rose again-heard his name ealIed