Year: 1878

haps he would take compassion on m
and let me in. But it wasn't likely tha
he would see me. Looking from tn,
lighted widow into the twilight oulsid
it was hardly possible that he should se'
anything. thought of flinging peb
be at the window but it was a gooC
distance off; Knight break the glass ant
be taken into custody. Igave few shril
whistles, holding my fingers in my
mouth; 1 even yentured on modified
version of an Australian "cooee"; but il
was of no use. The old man didn't turn
his head.


Once again I had almost given the
thing up and gone home; but just then
the light disappeared from the window
and all was darkness. Was the old man
off to bed, wondered, or had he gone
10 grope among the crypts below
Should see his light presently twink
ling in those high windows? Did he
couch in some stony gallery or find a
resting place in the golden ball? Whilst
1 was thus speculating I heard door
softly closed, doorstep on the stone
staircase; the iron gate at the bottom
creaked on its hinges. Isprang forward
and met gray headed old man with a
palid face, who was just opening the iron
drlle.


With all the eloquence of which am
master besought him to do me the
good Office of letting me into the sacred
fame. He hesitated, shook his head; at
last he relented. "Very WELL" he said,
fits against the rules; but, as you say
it's long way to the antipodes. I'll let
you in if you don't mind stopping inside
alone for an hour; it will be that time
before 1 return; and 1 must lock the
door behind me. Do you wish to go
inside?"


l thanked him warmly and said,
Certainly, yes" l was delighted at the
idea of an hour in perfect silence and
seclusion among the mighty columns
and arches of st Paul's. got under the
great dome. which bangs like a lumi-
nous cloud above, full of uncertain
shadows, faint circle of light trimming
it around, arches and huge piers en-
comprising it From the west sub
dued crimson glow: eastward the choir,
dark and sombre; the windows of the
apse showing as stray luminous patches
the altar glooming in the distance like
some funeral Satablque. White figures
cleaning here and there in shadowy
recesses-marble warriors. heroes states
men.


Under the dome, in the great open
space, was a vast crowd of chairs-wood-
en- rushbottom chairs-lashed together
in rows, looking toward the east. Choos
ing one of the most central of these l sat
down and began to dream, peopling this
wide area with vast, invisible congre-
CATION.


In soft, long-drawn cadence the bell
of Paul's struck out the hour of ten. l
had been in the place nearly an hour.
l felt chilled and numb. Enough of
dreams. Let me walk briskly up and
down and think of the busy scenes
awaiting me: the warm, glad welcome;
wife and chiliren holding out eager
right at the other side of this huge
world.


Ipaced rapidly up and down an ave-
nue. between the chairs. l had seen
enough; / was anxious TO be released, to
get away from the world of shadows into
the living world outside. For q moment
I stood in what seemed to be the very
center of the dome, and looked upward.
A faint circle of light marked the apex
of the soaring vault, and just above my
head saw-my eyes being now accns
toned to this half light-I saw, | say, a
rope hanging down from the vast height
above.


Then l remembered the spider webs
| had seen outside around the ball and
cross. And as stood and looked and
listened heard flint sounds of hammer
ing and knocking. Men were At work
hundreds of feet above; light shone
here and there, twinkling like s'ar.


In years gone by used to be a lannon's
gymnast, and the sight of the rope hang
ing just above my head put me in mind
of my former prowesS. l was heavier
now, my muscles less elastic; still there
was some salt of youth in me. How
many times, wondered, could ], hang
ing to that rope, draw my chin up tU my
knuckles?


The rope was just out Of reach, but /
leapt up and caughtit--once twice. thrice.
| felt kind of emulation with my old
self wanted to persuade myselfthat |
had not lost much of my former PROV
ess; and so l went on drawing myself up
and down, not touching the ground, till
l grew tired, and stretched myself out,
expecting to reach the pavement with
my toes. But | couldn't reach it. Cast
ing a glance below me, saw with hor
ror that the flooring had vanished under
me. l was swinging suspended by my
hands high up in the dome.


Perhaps if had dropped at that mo
ment might have escaped with a SER
ious shaking; but l hesitated and was
lost. Slowly and steadily the rope was
being wound up. l shut my eyes. Surely
this was hideous delusion that another
moment would dispel. But no; as
looked down, the floor below was almost
lost to my sight. There swung, a tiny
human speck, half way between heaven
and earth. couldn't hope TO hang on
much longer. My muscles were wearied
with the task l had given them. Imade
a desperate effort to raise myself hand
lover hand, so that might grasp the rope
with my feet also: but that was imposs
ible; | could not do it Even the des
perate energy of self preservation could
extract no more force from my muscles
| could only hold on.


was now on level with the plinth
that surmounts the great arches of the
dome. The gilded groundwork of new
fresco in the spandrel, cast glow upon
me; the colossal figures seemed to mock
my agony. must be half way up now
and for the moment ray ofhope shown
, in upon me that could hold on to the
end. But, to my despair, 1 saw that the


seeming dome was a false one, above
, which rose the veritable conical roof, an
! other hundred feet or more, and tha
J through a vast round orifce in the shan
; dome the rope was to ascend to the
; uppermost peak of the roof In tha


moment of torture 1 recognized my fat
= as inevitable. might prolong my agon!