Page images
PDF
EPUB

8. Still, Arnold did not entirely despair. He planted himself as firmly as he could on his legs, and clung to the rock; motionless, like a statue, he bewailed his unhappy lot. He searched, with his eyes, in all directions to find some means of safety, but he could not move a finger without imminent peril. From time to time, he uttered a shout, hoping, still, he might be heard; but the echo mocked at his despairing cry; his voice was lost amidst the awful solitudes of this granite world, and the sound of the distant water-fall rose, like a passing bell, from the dismal abyss at his feet.

9. "A man must really make sport of his life," thought Arnold, "to come to such a place as this. I have often been in danger, and have thought that my last moment was come; but that was all child's play to this! However, I will hold on to the last; I will not let go; I will cling to the rock, and struggle against fatigue. If I could only wait till to-morrow! My trusty friend, Gaspard, will never leave me to die thus; he will search for me everywhere; we shall still live to talk and laugh over my adventure. But what do I say, fool that I am! To-morrow will be my last day; how can I find strength and endurance to hang on here, throughout a day and a night?"

10. At length, the sun's rays slanted from the horizon, - the dreadful day drew to its close. Blue mists rose from the deep glens, and the upper snows shone like burnished gold in the glory of an Alpine sunset. The heavens darkened overhead, and a storm added its voices to the terrors of the night. A low murmuring sound among the distant fir forests announced the advent of the storm. The pitchy darkness of the night was, at times, succeeded by the dazzling flashes of forked lightning, revealing the deepest depths of the chasms around; while the thunder added its detonations to the chaos of angry sounds.

11. “O Lord, Thy wrath is terrible and Thy judgments are awful," exclaimed Arnold, overcome with consternation. "But hast Thou no pity for me, in Thy fatherly mercy?" At these words, the unhappy Arnold burst into tears and ejaculations. Beaten by the tempest, blinded by the lightning, his strength began to leave him, and he was on the point of yielding to the storm, when suddenly its violence ceased, the hail held up, and the clouds drew off. Gradually their threatening masses retired, like armies from the battle array, making way for the peaceful host of stars, shining in their glory over the azure field of the heavens.

12. The night air came up, balmy and sweet with the scent of the fir-trees and the Alpine flowers. Arnold's courage and strength returned, but alas! these could not avail to save him. Who would have had the muscles, the brain, or the heart to hold out under the cruel trial to which he was subject?

He cannot find a moment His legs begin to yield, his

13. His distress returns. of ease for mind or body. hands to tremble, and he is almost on the point of giving way. His cheek is now pale, his eye has lost its lustre, and all seems to announce his approaching end. Yet, he cannot resign himself to sink into the vast, yawning sepulchre at his feet.

14. The night passes; a roseate light begins, again, to color the everlasting snows. The balmy breath of morning puts out the stars, as if they were lamps whose services were no longer wanted.

Poor Arnold, dying of hunger, panting with thirst, hugs the rough rock frantically, and sucks in the dew, condensed on its surface during the night. He looks round on all sides, but sees no help; and, once more, his eye begins to swim; the heights and the valleys again dance and float in a mist before him; his courage and

strength are at last exhausted, and he murmurs the words, "My hour is come; O God, I cannot hold out any longer."

15. Just as his hands are loosing their hold, and he is going to roll into the abyss, a well-known voice strikes upon his ear: "Arnold! Arnold! my good Arnold! I am here. I have found you. Patience! courage! we are going to save you."

16. Arnold raises his swimming eyes. There, above, clearly defined against the deep blue sky, is the figure of his friend Gaspard. "Thank God, Gaspard! you are come. I knew you would not forsake me. How I longed for you! But quick, my friend, my strength is sinking."

17. Then, Arnold, catch hold of this rope. Can you manage to tie it round your waist ? Tie it firmly, and fear nothing; we are two stout fellows here, and will not fall."

let you

18. With a trembling hand, Arnold ties the rope round his body. The mountaineers lift him up like a dead weight. He oscillates in the air, he rises slowly, slowly, - he comes near the edge,

he reaches it,

[ocr errors]

one

effort more, and he is saved. Who can tell the joy that fills his heart, when his feet touch the firm ground again. Falling into the arms of his friend, his tears begin to flow freely and relieve him.

of joy

but tears

LXXXVII. - DROWNED IN A VASE OF GOLD

FISHES.

WAS on a lofty vase's side,

TWAS

Where China's gayest art had dyed

The azure flowers that blow,

Demurest of the tabby kind,
The pensive Selima, reclined,
Gazing on the lake below.

2. Her conscious tail her joy declared; The fair round face, the snowy beard,

The velvet of her paws,

Her coat that with the tortoise vies,
Her ears of jet, and emerald eyes,
She saw, and purred applause.

3. Still had she gazed; but midst the tide
Two angel-forms were seen to glide, -
The genii of the stream.
Their scaly armor's Tyrian hue,
Though richest purple, to the view
Betrayed a golden gleam.

4. The hapless nymph with wonder saw. A whisker first, and then a claw,

With many an ardent wish,

She stretched, in vain, to reach the prize,-
What female heart can gold despise?
What cat 's averse to fish?

5. Presumptuous maid! with looks intent,
Again she stretched, again she bent,
Nor knew the gulf between.
(Malignant Fate sat by, and smiled.)
The slippery verge her feet beguiled;
She tumbled headlong in.

6. Eight times emerging from the flood,
She mewed to every watery god
Some speedy aid to send.

No dolphin came, no Nereid stirred,
No cruel Tom nor Susan heard;
A favorite has no friend.

7. From hence, ye beauties, undeceived, Know, one false step is ne'er retrieved, And be with caution bold.

[ocr errors]

Not all that tempts your wandering eyes

And heedless hearts is lawful prize,

Nor all that glistens, gold.

THOMAS GRAY.

LXXXVIII. — VISIT TO THE SECOND KING

WE

OF SIAM.

HEN the king heard that an American man-of-war was at the mouth of the river, and that an officer had been sent up to Bangkok to report her arrival, he sent a messenger and a boat with the request that I would come and see him.

2. It did not take long for the score of oarsmen, with the short, quick motion of their paddles, and the grunting energy with which they plied them, to bring the boat up to the palace gates; for, of course, the palace has a water-front. One may pass, at one step, from among the thronging boats of the river into the quiet seclusion of the king's inclosure.

3. Passing through a lofty gateway at the water's edge, we came to a large and stately temple, about which were priests in orange-colored drapery, trying to screen their shining skulls from the fierce heat of the morning sun by means of fans.

4. I felt sorry for the priests. Ecclesiastical law and usage compel them to shave every sign of hair from their heads; and when, as in Siam, the sun's rays beat with almost perpendicular directness, it is no trifling thing to be deprived of even the natural protection with which the skull is provided.

5. Leaving the priests to group themselves in idle picturesqueness near the royal temple, we passed on, by storehouses, and treasuries, and stables of the royal elephants, between sentries standing guard with European

« PreviousContinue »