Year: 1874

as l could. | knslt down on the wet,
slippery balk, clasped it with my arms,
sat astride it. The gust came up fierce
and strong, passed over me once more
once more spared me.


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


Still | had time to think. What were
my thoughts! A helpless sense OF cruel
ty, of the horrible unfeclingness and mall
iguity of this hurting wind, of those rag
ing waters. A sad modification, too,
and sense of injustice, that | should lose
my life for nothing; a pleasant ramblc
turned TO such an evil end. or the past
| thought nothing: it was nothing to me
nova tale that was told that was all.
Of the future. nothing either, except a
dim and awful wonder. But plainly, viv-
idly before my eyes l saw the figure of
my wife, sitting at work by the fire. ,wait-
ing and watching for me-tor me. who
never should come. That was the bitter
ness of it..


And yet withal l was not unconscious
of certain vague sense of the ludlcrous
of scorn of myself, that | should be
thus stuck up astride beam, like some
lad at play, a sport for the bufetings OF
the elements. With this, too, an un-
sreakable rage klnl of crushed def
ance, revolt agalst the doom which was
imminent, q revolt which felt itself hope
less aud useless from Its beginning


Whilst all this storm Of conflicting
thoughts was whirlIng through my brain,
the turmoil outside was diminishing. The
wind had hushcd for while, and across
my face there came for moment sort
of rudey glow, the last beams OF
tho sua setting rapidly into the
sea. The vapors divided for moment,
the huge dark mass Of mountaic frowed
down upon me-for moment only then
the clouds encompassed 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, aud end it
all? To die in the dark would be more
horrible than anything else. Even on
the quietest. most resigned heath-bed, the
loss of light is the NEST disquieting trou.
bic to the departing soul. Light! more
light is the last cry of the spirit in ex.
tremity. And now it seemed as though
nature had determined to spare me =, nc
pang Of all the gathering horrors of my
doom Darkness and despair were set.
tling down upon my soul.


Then came the storm once more with a
rush of gathered rain, howl, a shout, q
roar of triumph, as the shril wind trum
peted past, precursor of more furious
blast. | could bear no more. A sapless
uerteiess form | was, swept from the
beam like withered leaf from branch
and fell--catching at some cross-bcams
as fell, but losing my hold IN a mo
meut, and dropping hclplessly down,


Once more consciousness returned. A
vague silvery light was diffused about me
above we're stars shining, huge balks o.
timber gim mered overhead. | was stretch
ed npon bed Of wet sand, lying on my
back, looking up into the sky.


/ was not dead. then. No! Was MAIN
ed, crushed ? | drew up one limb after
another, fearing least sudden shout Of
agony should betray some grievous hurt
But no l was sound in limb and as
raised myself and looked abour, | felt that
except for dizziness and q wonderful ring
ing that was ceaslessly going on in my
head, | was unhurt. Aud | was saved 7
That wus as nigh. happen. ges


When rose and stood upon my feet,
locked around me, and saw that | had
fallen upon little island, narrow spit o.
sand that had formed in the eddy caused
by the pile Of the bridge. On each side
Of it ran strong and rapid current
All this 1 saw by tho light Of the
moon, sometimes bright, sometimes OBJ
scured. as she parted her way among tho
fast driving clouds.


DistantIy across the waters shone the
lights Of the little town, It had its gas
lamps, which sparkled brilliantly in The
night; and from out Of the black rocks
which showed against the skyline, here
and there the soft light of a candle in :
cottage window cleaned like fairy lamp


On the other side Of the estuary there
were no lights; but the straining eye nigh
discern the gloom Of high hills, that seem
cd. indeed only like darksome chasms il