230 PICCOLETTA IN DANGER. 



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 me 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 bow 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 



