4f)8 The ttontrri'i-'x Leap. [MAY, 



tation of the word, as ever lace J a foe ; but, at this moment, the cold 

 drops of mortal terror burst over his forehead : lie dug his hands into the 

 hard and scanty earth that covered the surface of the landing-place, and 

 clung convulsively with his feet to a slight projection on the side, that 

 must have instantaneously given way to a less pressure had it not been of 

 the hardest granite. It seemed for some time as if further effort was impos- 

 sible as if his heart's sole aim and desire was to remain h'xed forever in 

 this frightful position ; but, as he found his strength gradually giving way, 

 his hands relaxing in their grasp, and his feet slipping from their hold and 

 the conviction broke on his mind that, in a few minutes more, he must 

 give himself up to a death the imagination shuddered at desperation came 

 to the aid of courage; and, staking every thing on the event of a single 

 movement which, if unsuccessful, must plunge him into the gulf he 

 caught with his hands still closer to the rock, and pressing his feet with all 

 his might against their slender hold, succeeded, by a violent muscular 

 effort, in heaving himself upon the cliff. " Eternal curses on my nerveless 

 limbs!" cried the bridegroom, arriving at the instant ; " the Raven has 

 reached his tower and who may follow him ? Turn back," continued 

 he, raising his voice into a furious shout, " ravisher! murderer! monster! 

 all things bad but coward ! Turn back! and I swear by every thing 

 binding on man's soul, to divide in twain my sword with thee; and, 

 although thou deservest to die like a dog, to fight a fair fight with theo on 

 this hill side, without friend or witness, save yonder setting sun, and Him 

 who made it!" But the Raven was deaf even to so courteous an offer ; h$ 

 lay on his back upon the cliff, apparently without sense or motion, his legs 

 hanging over the side seeming, like the poet's personification of Danger, 

 to have thrown him 



" on the ridgy sfcsp 

 Of some loose, hanging rock to sleep." 



'' Take this, then, to rouse thee !" said the bridegroom, tearing up, by 

 main force, a fragment of the rock, and hurling it across the chasm : it fell 

 with a heavy sound on the outlaw's breast; and he raised himself up, like 

 a chained mastiff, at the pain and insult. " Who art thou r" he cried, 

 hardly seeming to recollect his situation ; " what dost thou seek ?" 

 "What do I seek? O God ! Look here!" replied the bridegroom, 

 stretching his arms and his body far over the cliff tow r ards the destroyer, 

 while his voice was choked with the opposite and yet combining emotions 

 of grief and rage. " What do I seek? See'st thou this handkerchief? 

 A few hours ago it covered the fairest and the chastest bosom in broad 

 Scotland : the red blots of murder, and the wrinkles of ruffian violence, are 

 on it now ; and the covering of the bosom is reproach, and foulness, and 

 dishonour! What do I seek ? 1 seek," continued he, speaking through 

 his clenched teeth, " I seek to fulfil the oath I made to heaven and to 

 her to steep this handkerchief, ravisher, in thy heart's blood!" " Tempt 

 me not!" said the outlaw: "hast thou not tasted enough of my ven- 

 geance already ? I am sleekened on thee. Get thee gone hut cross no 

 more the path of one who has neither fear nor mercy." The avenger 

 paused for an instant, and then paced to and fro by the edge of the rock, 

 with the resth-ss and impatient step of a beast of prey along the bars of 

 his cage ; but soon his brow grew blacker, and his lips met with a firmer 

 resolution, ' He is spent with fatigue,"- he sold aloud, although com- 

 muning only with himself; " he is w T eary with murder, or lie would by 

 this time have sought the' ford. What holds me from leaping into his den ? 

 I am younger than he; my limbs are more supple than his. What care I 



