CAUGHT IN A TRAP.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXIX, Issue 96, 25 April 1895, Page 4

CAUGHT IN A TRAP.

Chambers's Journal.

The floor was black with rats, tumbling and leaping over each in dire terror, in the old tower of Touldonny Castle. I began at once to lay about me with the cane, and wherever it fell at least ono victim suffered. Then I turned and hit behind me, the rats fleeing in abject fear. At that moment my candlestick slipped out of my hand and fell with a rattle on tho floor, leaving mf> in utter darkness. In an instant a rat sprang at my throat, and as I seized and dashed it to tho ground, several more leaped at, my face, and more ran to my ankles and climbed up within and without my trousers, inflicting sharp bites when they found an opportunity. In vain did I shout and dash them off, trample on them, and lay about me with the cane. The door being locked there was no possible exit ; and I was bitten severely round my neck and face as I tried to kick the door out. The brutes had lost all fear of man in the dark, and I shuddered at the thought of my bones being found in that awful den. Something must be done, and that speedily. There was a large aperture in the outer wall six feet from tho [floor. An iron stanchion ran through it, dividing the aperture in two. Outside was a curious iron cradle, something like the "ciow's nest " on the mainmast of a modern whaler, and here watch and ward used to be kept in tho troublous days of old, or a captive was put in it, as the Countess of Buchan was displayed from the walls of Berwick. A.ladder led to it from the floor, but it lay broken and rotting on the ground I was impelled however, with the horror o£ the situation ; and while half a-dozen rats at least hung on each leg, I swept off as many more from my neck and face, and leaping up, Beized the stanchion. Despair lent strength, and I pulled myself up by putting my feet on the rough stones of the wall, dislodged some halfrotten boards, and felt the cold night air blow on my heated, bleeding face. Next I threw all the rats that were hanging -to my legs far out into the dark void t below. The river Esk I knew ran beneath, and there was little fear of any of them surviving the fall. Some rats, I found, maddened by the taste and smell of my blood, climbed as I had done up the rough stone walls and positively attacked mo again, like so. many angry ants. Wounded, torn, and bleeding, and bitten in every limb, I managed to push myself out gently into the iron cradle, and there was comparatively safe. Only two or three rats could reach me, and these I soon dashed down. The others apparently gave up the chase when I was thus in the cold wind and rain, comparatively out of their reach. I was safe a for the time, but by no means comfortable. 1 leaned against thick iron bars which were dripping with wet and exceedingly cold. The wind was gathering to a hurricane, and I had no covering of any kind. It must be about midnighl, I calculated, and morn would not break before seven at the earliest. Buttoning up my coat, I made up my mind to face any inclemency of weather, rather than to desceud to the murderous den I had so narrowly quitted alive. The rats would depart at dawn by making two or three fresh holes, and I could break down the door, get to bed. and foment my wounds. In a very short titre I was stiff and shivering with cold, Shower after shower drifted over ; the wind blew in squalls, and roared round the tower. Moon and stars were alike obscured ; but a dull heavy roar came up from below. I knew it was .the Esk far down in full flood. There was nothing for it but to wait on as patiently as I could. Feeling my watch's face, I guessed it was about half-past three. Slowly the hours wore on, as they only do when the mind is in deep stress of anxiety. Half-famished and blue with cold, I rejoiced to see far away a streak of. light upon the horizon. My heart leaped as I recognised the first footsteps of the dawn "clad in amice gray." Gradnally the light broadened, and night grew brown instead of black, and then the gloom dissolved and faded, and a red rim surround erl the distant eye of light. And then the hills grew more distinct, and, joy of joys, the sun rose upon a dripping world ! I could now investigate the crazy iron cradle in which I rested, or rather lay. lc had originally been attached by two iron bands to the central stanchion, and by two huge iron pins, some four feet under the aperture, to the wall. The iron bands had been long rusted through, and the whole weight of the structure now rested on one of the iron pins which penetrated the joint of the masonry, and looked most insecure. My getting into it had evidently caused the other pin to slip out, so that the infirm structure and I rested — so long as I did not move— on the one weak-looking pin. I saw at once that a movement might cause it to slip sideways, when I should be precipitated out at once; or else to snap off, when I should also bo carried downwards in its ruin. There was a further danger, that my very remaining in it might cause it gradually to become detached from the oue pin which alone held it together. Here was a dreadful discovery ! My head was below the level of the aperture ; and to raise my arin^, shift my position, and attempt to grasp the stanchion, was perilous in tho extreme. It was firm enough, saw. Could I once clutch it, I felt assured that I could pull myself up and reach tho interior of the store-room. Having carefully Btudied the situation, I determined to wait no .longer, but to take oil my braces— which wero fortunately made of stout buckskin — and throw them round tho stanchion. I could then venture to stand up, and, holding by them, could pasa hand over band to tho stanchion, when d< spair, 1 felt, would give me strength to pull myself up. Accordingly, I began my attempts to throw the braces round the stanchion : ten or twelvo times they fell back on me, and then a new terror seized me, lest they shonlil slip out of my bands altogether, in which case certain death would stare mo in the face. At that moment a voice reached my ears from below, and I saw my keeper passing under with the gardener. " Save us ! " he said, is yon the maister like a bird in a cage ? He'll surely be doon in a meenute mair. Hold on, maister," he shouted, 'Til come up! Hold on!' Just then a large piece of mortar gave way below me, and fell clattering down the wall into the river with a splash. I saw that a moment's delay might mean death, so, rising slowly to my feet, I flung the br.ac.eß once more round the

stanchion and grasped the ends, when, with a dull crack, all the idle cradle gave way under me and fell with a horrid crash into the Esk. I remained hanging three or four inches below the stanchion ; but fortunately retained my senses, and gripping the braces in my teeth with the strength of despair, pulled myself up inch by inch, and seized the stanchion with my right hand ; then I dropped the braces, and with a great effort reached up with theleft and gripped it convulsively with both, still hanging, but so far Bafe. Not an instant dared I linger, as I felt my strength going every moment, but dragged myself higher till I got hold of the masonry within with one hand, and clung a secoid to gain breath. My eyes closed, my head swam, a mist came over mo, and I all but dr opptd in a faint. Just then I heard the steps of the keeper coming, ah ! how leisurely, upstairs ! " Quick, quick, Malcolm, for your life ! " I shouted in a last effort of vitality. " Come and get hold of me ! Haste ! Help ! " Again I all but fell ; but now the door opened, and Malcolm rushing in, clasped both my wrists, and I was safe ! I ; I I