FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151  
152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168   169   170   171   172   173   >>  
were not to succeed; for, though the current was bearing off the boy before his eyes, scarcely ten feet distant, he could not overtake the drowning child. Twice the boy went out of sight; and a suppressed shriek escaped the mother's lips; but twice he reappeared, and then, with hands wrung wildly together, and breathless anxiety, she followed his progress, as his form was hurried onward. The youth now appeared to redouble his exertions, for they were approaching the most dangerous part of the river. The rush of waters at this spot was tremendous, and no one ventured to approach it, even in a canoe, lest he should be dashed to pieces. What, then, would be the youth's fate, unless he soon overtook the child? He seemed fully sensible of the increasing peril, and now urged his way through the foaming current with a desperate strength. Three times he was on the point of grasping the child, when the water's whirled the prize from him. The third effort was made just as they were entering within the influence of the current above the falls; and when it failed, the mother's heart sunk within her, and she groaned, fully expecting the youth to give up his task. But no; he only pressed forward the more eagerly; and, as they breathlessly watched, amid the boiling waters, they saw the form of the youth following close after that of the boy. And now both pursuer and pursued shot to the brink of the falls. An instant they hung there, distinctly visible amid the foaming waters. Every brain grew dizzy at the sight. But a shout burst from the spectators, when they saw the child held aloft by the right arm of the youth--a shout that was suddenly changed to a cry of horror, when they both vanished into the raging waters below! The mother ran forward, and then stood gazing with fixed eyes at the foot of the falls. Suddenly she gave the glad cry, "There they are! See! they are safe! Great God, I thank Thee!" And, sure enough, there was the youth still unharmed. He had just emerged from the boiling vortex below the falls. With, one hand he held aloft the child, and with the other he was making for the shore. They ran, they shouted, they scarcely knew what they did, until they reached his side, just as he was struggling to the bank. They drew him out almost exhausted. The boy was senseless; but his mother declared that he still lived, as she pressed him to her bosom. The youth could scarcely stand, so faint was he fr
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151  
152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168   169   170   171   172   173   >>  



Top keywords:
mother
 

waters

 

current

 

scarcely

 

foaming

 
pressed
 
boiling
 

forward

 
changed
 

vanished


horror

 

suddenly

 
spectators
 

pursuer

 
pursued
 

instant

 
distinctly
 
visible
 

Suddenly

 

reached


struggling

 

making

 

shouted

 

exhausted

 

senseless

 

declared

 

watched

 

gazing

 

emerged

 

vortex


unharmed

 
raging
 

groaned

 

dangerous

 

approaching

 
appeared
 

redouble

 
exertions
 

bearing

 
approach

ventured
 

tremendous

 
onward
 
hurried
 

overtake

 

reappeared

 
drowning
 

escaped

 
suppressed
 

shriek