第14部分(第1/7 页)

e　child　as　well　as　he　could；　but　the　ferocious　bird　seemed　to　aim　all　its　blows　at　him　alone。　Afraid　of　cutting　the　cord；　he　could　not　strike　it　as　he　wished；　and　the　struggle　was　prolonged；　while　Harry　shouted　with　all　his　might　in　hopes　of　making　his　rades　hear。

He　soon　knew　they　did；　for　they　pulled　the　rope　up　faster；　a　distance　of　about　eighty　feet　remained　to　be　got　over。　The　bird　ceased　its　direct　attack；　but　increased　the　horror　and　danger　of　his　situation　by　rushing　at　the　cord；　clinging　to　it　just　out　of　his　reach；　and　endeavoring；　by　pecking　furiously；　to　cut　it。

Harry　felt　overe　with　terrible　dread。 One　strand　of　the　rope　gave　way；　and　it　made　them　sink　a　little。

A　shriek　of　despair　escaped　his　lips。

A　second　strand　was　divided；　and　the　double　burden　now　hung　suspended　by　only　half　the　cord。

Harry　dropped　his　knife；　and　by　a　superhuman　effort　succeeded；　at　the　moment　the　rope　was　giving　way；　in　catching　hold　of　it　with　his　right　hand　above　the　cut　made　by　the　beak　of　the　bird。　But；　powerfully　as　he　held　it　in　his　iron　grasp；　he　could　feel　it　gradually　slipping　through　his　fingers。

He　might　have　caught　it；　and　held　on　with　both　hands　by　sacrificing　the　life　of　the　child　he　supported　in　his　left　arm。　The　idea　crossed　him；　but　was　banished　in　an　instant；　although　he　believed　himself　quite　unable　to　hold　out　until

drawn　to　the　surface。 For　a　second　he　closed　his　eyes；　believing　they　were　about　to　plunge　back　into　the　abyss。

He　looked　up　once　more；　the　huge　bird　had　disappeared；　his　hand　was　at　the　very　extremity　of　the　broken　rope……when；　just　as　his　convulsive　grasp　was　failing；　he　was　seized　by　the　men；　and　with　the　child　was　placed　on　the　level　ground。

The　fearful　strain　of　anxiety　removed；　a