Year: 1873




time in the island Of st. Domingo, in
the West Indies. The weather was so
hot while I was there that bathing was
a great luxury, but as sharks made it
dangerous TO bathe in the sea, I inquired
Of the landlord Of the hotel if there
we're not a river near the town.


There is = very fine river" said he,
Gust over that range of lofty hills; but
it is 4 good distance by the road, and
you would find the walk very hot and
dusty"


But what hinders my going over
the hills and making a short cut?''


"Why, they are so steep on the side
facing the river that you could net get
down without breaking your neck, sir"
he replied, rather bluntly.


80, nonsense I said; Il should like
to see the hill,-I could roll down, at
any rate" And away l bounded, and
soon reached the top Of the nearest hill,
from which I spied the beautiful river,
broad and deep, dancing along and gilt
tering in the beams of the rising sun.
The sight of the cool stream created in
me such a thirst to be swimming in it,
that began to descend without being
at all particular to pick my steps. /
had not got down more than twenty
yards from the brow of the hill, and that
with much difficulty, when I found it
impossible to proceed another step, for
the precipice below me was almost as
fiat and steep as the side of a house, and
some two or three hundred feet in depth.
had gone so heedlessly into danger
that the narrow ledge upon which l
rested was not broad enough TO admit
of my two feet abreast, and I was oblig-
ed TO place one foot behind the other,
and lean my body against the side of the
hill. This painful position rendered it
impossible for me to lift one leg to en-
deavOr to gain footing above me, for
felt If I attempted to do so the other
foot woold slip off the ledge, and I Dlust
inevitably fall to the bottom. The road
at the foot Of the hill, which ran along
the bank of the river, was thronged
with negroes going to market with fruit
and wood from the mountains, and SO
soon as they observed my danger, they
gathered together in great-numbers and
began to shout to me. | could not un-
derstand what they said, but the sight
of host Of black people all shouting
in great excitement had such an effect
upon me, as gazed upon them from my
ledge, that my knees began to tremble,
my eyes became confused, and felt that
it would be a relief to plunge off right
/ into the midst Of them. I cannot de-
scribe this irresistible impulse, and as ii
grew stronger and more urgent upon
me, l cast my eyes upward and felt
some relief.


And here il may be we'll to remark
in passing, that in all positions of dan
ger from being or "giddy height
the danger is greatly increased whilst
the eyes are turned downwards on the
objects beneath rs, and relief is gained
by looking mp to the sky.


In thus looking up, 1 saw, at abou
three feet above my head, the stump o
an old tree, or probably a large shrub
it was sticking out above two feet from
the bank, and was jagged at its extremi
ty, as if it had been broken off. In my
desperation, / resolved to make a sprins
at it; if l caught it with my right hand
and it was not too rotten to bear m,
weight, I knew 1 could draw my bod
up to it and get my knee upon it; for i
sailor can get "hand hold" he troub
les himself little about his body; it ma,
swing over an abyss miles in Depth anC
it gives him no concern, because, will
his hands secure, he does .he please
with the whole of his person. Then,


reasoned, if missed it could but fall
and every moment convinced me coult
not remain where 1 was much longer
consequently, gathering myself up,
made spring, and caught it, and as


drew my body up and lodged my kne


upon it, cheer arose from the multi


tude below F'Iike the noise of many wa
ters" In few minutes more I game


the brow Of the hill, and turning rounc


I waved my hat, and returned the chee


of the sable crowd.