He did not desire to jump, he could not go forward, and to go backward was just as impossible. He thought of his pleasant home across the Atlantic, he thought of his wife and family, his creditors, and all who had an interest in him, and shut his eyes and sat down, clinging desperately to the few bushes that were within reach.
Another of the party, who had skipped very like a goat over the ridge, and had gained the porch of the little tavern, saw his danger, and called the courier. The party were all amused at the predicament of the fleshy man except the fleshy man himself. To him it was no joke. He was anchored in the fix described by the colored clergyman. “On de one side, bredern, is perdition, and on de oder damnation.”
THE DILEMMA—WHICH SIDE TO FALL.
But the courier, good for something, acted promptly. He seized a loaf of bread and a bottle of wine, and rushed down the path. He bade the victim of an attempt to do something he couldn’t do, to eat of the loaf and drink all he could of wine (which he did, especially the latter), shut his eyes, grab his hand, and run; adding cheerfully:—
“Geep your eysh shut dight—oof yoo opens dem at all yoo are gone—and run mit me.”