s. He was refused permission; but he
finally saw the president of the company, who granted his request.
Arriving at the appointed time, the engineer, Mr. Farrington, said:
"Well, sir; whenever you're ready, I am."

"All ready, said I, as bold as brass outside, and as nervous as the
Endorian witch on the inside. He walked on and I followed, when,
Horror of Horrors--capital H's--to both Horrors--instead of leading me
to the 'cradle,' which I called a raft, he took me to a little square
board held up by two crossed iron arms, called a 'buggy.' It was about
three feet square, and depended from the 'traveler,' a three quarter
inch wire which crosses the river, and is run from tower to tower over
apparatus, by means of a stationary engine. It was too late to back
out, but I didn't feel exactly prepared to plunge in. He did.

"He jumped in, and the little buggy swung from side to side, precisely
as a swing does when you jump on the board and try to steady it by the
ropes. I looked at him, at the scale--that's it; it's exactly like a
pair of scales, with one scale--at the deep depths below us, and at
myself. I imagined the ticklish thrill which would permeate my body
when we started. I fancied the glories of the prospective perspective
before me.

"'Come, hurry up, please,' interrupted Farrington, and with
resignation I hurried down. He stood up. I crouched down. Perhaps you
think you'd have stood up as he did. You're mistaken. I crouched down
and held on tight. Make no mistake. I held on tight and waited for my
thrill. It didn't come. Then I stood up, and Farrington gave the word
'Go.' 'Wouldn't you better take a rope along?' said one of the men.
'Yes, I think I would.' What did he want of a rope? He feared I would
be nervous. He meant to grapple me in the middle of the river, and tie
me in. I knew it. I felt it. But I didn't say a word.

"With a gentle jerk we started--slow, slow, very slow. Farrington
stood in front and watched the wire. I stood behind and watched
myself. I felt nothing. I was'n't exhilarated. I was'n't scared. I
was'n't even timid. I can't look from the top of a house without
desiring to jump off, but I looked down from the buggy and hadn't the
least desire to jump. Farrington says: 'It's because it's so high up.'
Well, we went on without any special sensation till the buggy struck
against a stay rope which reaches from one of the cables to the tower.
In the effort to free the buggy, Mr. Farrington gave