230 PICCOLETTA IN DANGER. 



thunder, and there fell into the pitfall some great drops of 

 rain. The monster at the bottom began to stir. Ah ! thought 

 I, it's all over with rne now ! and the dust which I felt again 

 in motion assured me that my fate was at hand. I had 

 scarcely power left to cling to my last holdfast, but cling I 

 did, and presently became aware, from a terrific roaring of the 

 branches of the oak above, that it was now a violent gust of 

 wind, and not the movements of the Ogre, which disturbed 

 the sand and was whirling it in eddies round the pit. 



"Then came a tremendous crash, and my sole support 

 shook under me. ' Now/ groaned I, ' I am lost indeed !' but 

 in that moment I was saved. Something fallen from above 

 had nearly shut out all remaining daylight from the mouth of 

 the pitfall, which it lay across, and nearly covered. Here and 

 there, however, I could catch a glimpse of light, and, when my 

 terror was a little abated, discovered with infinite joy that the 

 top of my hideous trap was nearly covered by a bough torn by 

 the storm from the oak above. Grasping with eagerness this 

 unlooked-for help, I speedily abandoned my dangerous station, 

 and a moment afterwards heard the stone which had supported 

 me rolling to the bottom of the pit. 



" Hope renewed my strength, and by turns climbing and 

 traversing the branches of my saving arm of oak, I soon 

 found myself again on solid ground, and, with the utmost 

 speed I could put forth, made my way homewards across the 

 sandy plain around the pitfall, which the rain accompanying 



