212 THE STRAWBERRY PARTY. 



Cousin Tom had undertaken to conduct us by a path which 

 led near the " Devil's Chasm." This was a deep ravine, open- 

 ing like a narrow cut between the cliffs, but expanding into a 

 large oblong basin, with rocks and stones lying thickly strewn 

 at the bottom, and looking like the dry bed of a lake. It was 

 one of the wildest places I had ever seen. We stood on a flat 

 table of rock and gazed over into a deep and gloomy hollow, 

 with trees growing on its precipitous sides, and masses of stone 

 projecting in all directions, while immediately opposite to us, 

 was another table of rock, overhanging the yawning chasm, 

 and so nearly approaching that on which we stood that it 

 almost formed a natural bridge across the ravine. We were 

 speculating upon the rifted appearance of the cliffs, and won- 

 dering where the waters had found an outlet from their former 

 bed, when suddenly Charlie Walton exclaimed : 



"Why it is only a stride, — come — who'll follow me ?" 



Ere we could utter a remonstrance, the agile boy had leapt 

 the chasm and stood on the opposite projection of rock, look- 

 ing like a young Mercury, as the wind lifted his curls from his 

 superb brow. For an instant we were struck dumb, and then 

 Cousin Tom, in a tone, half of vexation and half of triumph, 

 (for he was provoked at the boy's folly,) called out : 



" Well, sir, you have given yourself a pleasant walk by this 

 mad freak ; you will have to go seven miles round, in order to 

 get home." 



