Year: 1874

to Jump from the stern OF the dlngy on 10
cross piece that formed sort Of platform a
foot or so from the waters edge.
! jumped, and landed safely on the balk,
and then 1 found that my way upward was
by climbing the nearest pier, across which
were nailed rough, irregular slaves, which
constituted what is called a workman's lad
der. had no intention Of undertaking any
acrobatic feats, and the idea Of climbing up
to that giddy height by such rough, unreia-
BILE SUPPORTS was distasleful enough. I
would go back in the boat to dry land once
more But the boat had spun away on the
tide, and was now far out Of earshot, or indeed
eyeshot either. There l stood, then, in the
midst of rushing, raging sea, upon balk
of timber, embracing huge black pier, the
head of which was lost in the gloom and mist
overhead. I couldn't stay here; l must get
across the bridge at all hazards, and my only
way was upward.
Up I went slowly, step by step, testing each
frail splintered stave ere trusted my weight
to it. More than one broke away in my
hands and fell into the sea below. But when
I reached the top, thought, then all this
danger would be over. should find firm,
secure platform-a rail, or at least, Il rope for
the hand.


When came to the top Of the pier, saw
stretched out before me Il beam, suspended,
as it seemed, in mid.air, a narrow beam
more like a rope, it seemed to me-stretched
over this wild abyss Of raging waves-that,
and nothing else. There were footprints in
the narrow ridge of timber. 1t was not more
than two feet wide at the broadest-and the
sight of them gave me courage. Men had
passed over here before ME; I would pass too
And so, without giving myselfa moment more
to think, I stepped and the moment when


letting 60 with my hands, 1 stood upon that
topmost round of the ladder, and balanced
myself for an instant, as placed my foot
upon the plank-that moment in which l
seemed to quiver and sway to and fro, high
up on this giddy perch, beyond the ken of any
human eye-moment of dizzy terror, Of strange
whirling thoughts, of instincts to cast myself
headlong into the sea, was my sensation as any
ordinary weak or placid being and yet it
came and went like any other moment, and l
stood erect upon the beam, and began my
perilous way.


heard the wind afar off, believing among
the breakers on the bar l heard it, screech-
ing and bowling over the flats. | felt mo-
ment's calm, the strange, unnatural hush, and
then the rush and leap Of the storm, as it
hurled by me. Dashing the salt spray into
my eyes, it came seizing all the loose corners
of my apparel, and cracking them like whip
lashes, carrying away my feeble breath in its
wild course, but leaving me-yes, thank God
leaving me still balanced on my plank.


The gusts had cleared the mists for space,
and I could now see before me, though indls-
tinctly enough, but could see that there was
only another length of unprotected balk; be-
yond that was broad, safe platform of tim
ber, stretched from pier to pier. Oh! to feel
that platform safe under my feet! l traversed
the balk almost on run. must reach safe
ty before there came another gust Of that
fierce wind.


I heard it coming now, but was almost
home-yes, home, for that rough, unsheltered
platform, on this rude night, seemed like a
home to me. was stepping firmly and quick
ly along. Suddenly chasm seemed to open
under my feet-a horrible chasm. The beam
on which I stood came suddenly to an end.
For some eight feet of it had been cut away,
and there was nothing to help me over this
dreadful gap. Without wings, it was impos.
sible to pass.


All hope left me. l knew that to retrace
my steps was impossible Even if reached
the end from which l had started, should
be no better off than here, and the hopeless
ness of the position weakened my every nerve.
Once more I heard the wind rising and hurl-
ing along toward me. would cling to life as
long as I could. I knelt down on the wet,
slippery balk, clasped it with my arms, sat
astrideit. The gust came up fierce and strong,
passed over me once more-once more spared
me.


But felt that could not survive another
such attack should be blown away like
leaf And yet there was no hope of escape
none. 1t was only question of moments,
how long, with stifening limbs, could cling
to this rough beam then plunge into dark
ness.


Still l had time to think. What were my
thoughts! A helpless sense of cruelty, of the
horrible unfeelingness and malignity of the
hurling wind, of these raging waters. A sad
modification, too, and sense Of injustice, that
should lose my life for nothing; a pleasant
ramble turned to such an evil end. Of the
past thought nothing; it was nothing to me
nova tale that was told; that was all. Of
the future, nothing either, except dim and
awful wonder. But plainly, vividly before
my eyes saw the figure Of my wife, sitting
at work by the fire, waiting and watching for
me-for me, who never should come. That
was the bitterness Of it.


And yet withal was not unconscious Of a
certain vague sense of the ludicrous-of my
self, that should be thus stuck up astride a
beam, like some lad at play, a sport for the
buffetings of the elements. With this, too an
unspeakable, kind Of crushed defiance, a
revolt against the doom which was imminent,
revolt which felt itself hopeless and useless
from its beginning.


| Whilst all this storm Of conflicting thoughts
was whirlipg through my brain, the turmoil
outside was diminishing The wind had
hushed for awhile, and across my face for q
moment with sort of ruddy glow, the last
beams of the sun setting rapidly into the sea.
The vapors divided for a moment, the huge
dark mass of mountain frowned down upon
.me-for a moment only-then the clouds ell
compassed me once more-the glow died
away-the awful gloomy gray of night began
to gather in upon me like net


Should drop into the sea and end it all
| TO die in the dark would be more horrible
than anything else. Even on The quietest,
most resi- gned death bed, the loss Of light is
the most disquieting trouble to the departing
soul. Light, more light, is the last cry of the
spirit in extremity. And now it seemed that
nature had determined to spare me no pang
of all the gathering horrors Of my doom.
Darkness and despair were settling down upon