MARTIN RATTLER. 221

Of all this Martin was well aware, for he had been
often at the place before, and knew every inch of the
ground. His chief difficulty would be to leap over
_ the precipice in such a manner as to cause the Indian
to believe he had fallen over accidentally. If he
could accomplish this, then he felt assured the savages
would suppose he had been drowned, and so make no
search for him atall. Fortunately the ground favoured
this. About five feet below the edge of the precipice
there was a projecting ledge of rock nearly four feet
broad and covered with shrubs. Upon this it was
necessary to allow himself to fall. The expedient
was a desperate one, and he grew sick at heart as he
glanced down the awful cliff, which seemed to him
three times higher than it really was, as all heights
do when seen from above.

Glancing round, he observed his savage guardian
gazing contemplatively at the distant prospect.
Martin’s heart beat audibly as he rose and walked
with an affectation of carelessness to the edge of the
cliff. As he gazed down, a feeling of horror seized
him ; he gasped for breath, and almost fainted. Then
the idea of perpetual slavery flashed across his mind,
and the thought of freedom and home nerved him.
He clinched his hands, staggered convulsively forward,

and fell, with a loud and genuine shriek of terror,