A RIDE ON A WEATHERCOCK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 497, 21 December 1869, Page 3

A RIDE ON A WEATHERCOCK.

AN ADVENTURE WITH A MADMAN. . " Well, Tom, you don't mean to say you funk it ? I thought you had more pluck than to stick at a little thing like that. Suppose the spire is a hundred and fifty feet bigh, why there are ladders all the way up, and isn't it just as easy to mount the hundredth step as the first ?" urged my adventurous comrade, as he looked wistfully up at the tall, tapering steeple, which the workmen wera newly pointing. "I tell you what, Willie; I don't see the use of running the risk of breaking our necks in the attempt; for you, who have so lately recovered from brain fever, too, it would be the height of folly." "If so, Tom, it's folly's height itself I'm going to climb to, and within ten minutes I will be astride onthe weathercock. Goodbye, my boy, I'm sorry you haven't the courage to follow," and whistling a lively air, Willie Bradney walked towards the church porch. I was now ashamed to hang back; I knew that the next day Willies adventure would make him the hero of the school — a position which we were ever struggling for in jealous rivalry. So ere he reached the church porch I overtook him, and signified my intention of sharing the adventure. " That's right, old fellow ?" was the retort; " hut come, he quick ere the workmen return from dinner," and passing into the belfry, we ascended the deep winding steps of the tower, and soon gained the battlements. So far all was well. We were already one hundred feet from the ground; but above us rose the tall, tapering spire to a height of a hundred and fifty more, its Corinthian pinnacle surmounted by the glittering weathercock, which had been newly gilded. The ascent had to be made by ladders, which were bound to each other, and secured tightly to the stone-work. I glanced at Bradney. He seemed cool and determined; his right foot was already on the ladder. " Go on," I said, " if you are resolved, I'm with you," and away he went, and I.. after him. There is nothing much easier than getting up a ladder. I took care to grasp my way tightly with my hands, and neither to look up nor look down. Willie, however, climbed much faster than I, though as unaccustomed to the work. We both often paused to rest. At last I heard him shout — " Here's a pretty go, Martin ! This confounded pinnacle projects a matter of two feet above the top of the ladder. I don't see how to clamber over it." •' Come down again, then, like a sensible fellow I" I cried, for I heartily wished the adventure over. " Oh 1 g6'to Bath !" was the courteous retort, and, looking up, I perceived Bradney's legs dangling in the air, as he endeavoured to clamber over the projecting stonework, and reach the iron vane. " In this he succeeded. I was equally lucky. A minute later, aided by the .cross bars which marked the points of the compass, we ascended the huge weathercock, and sat astride on it, facing each other. It was then that the horror of our situation seemed first to burst upon each of us. I looked down, and two hundred and fifty feet below lay the town, and the great square which was filled with people evidently intently gazing up at us, and looking no bigger than dolls. Then I glanced at the churchyard directly beneath ; it presented the appearance of a small, level grass plate, with white mice running over it, for, to my bewildered -vision, the Tery grarestones seemed to move. I felt that I was becoming dizzy ; the flaky clouds overhead appeared to flash by with sickening rapidity, and I threw my arms backwards around the tail of the cock for support. At thia moment a hollow, harsh laugh broke from my companion : for the first time I glanced at his face, and the terrible expression depicted there I shall never forget. His eyes flashed lurid and wild, his face was pale as a corpse, and a light foam stood upon his lips. " Isn't this glorious ? " he screamed, with

another maniacal laugh ; " right to the blazing sun, I tell you, and we are soaring fast. Look at the gaping crowd below. Ah I ah ! they can't stay us. There's the old church tower, too, I should say a mile down; but where is the spire— the tall spire we climbed up once ? — 'tis gone ! Never mind 1 Oh, brave bird ! " and he struck the cock with the flat of his hand, as if to encourage its flight. A terrible thought struck me. My friend's i eason, so lately prostrated by brain fever, had left him. I was alone with a madman 1 The idea wa3 soon confirmed; again rang forth the shrill, hollow laugh, and again Bradney shouted in the wild accents of delirium — "Ah ! ah ! faster and faster ! See the blood-red clouds above and below us! The world is gone ! There is the sun, a ball of fire ; and we are sailing into its very vortex. I say, Martin, let us throw ourselves from this stupid bird's back; we shall get on faster without him." " No, no, Bradney ; I'm tired, and like riding — let's stop where we are," I replied, for I knew it was the best way to humour a madman: but my words had no effect. With an unnatural chuckle he answered me — " No, no, my boy; you promised to follow me, and you shall come off with me, or I will pull you by main force. We fly so fast that if Aye don't t yke the leap at the same moment, one will be dropped twenty, eh, thirty miles behind." He crept towards me as he spoke, still clutching and mouthing. I saw his intention. I again glanced below; more fearful than ever seemed the fearful depth at my feet. Tighter with the tenacity of despair I grasped the tail of the gilded bird; but what would that avail against the strength of a maniac. At this moment a gust of wind caused the vane to spin round from east to north; that sudden blast of wind saved my life. Poor Bradney lost his balance, and fell from the giddy height. I saw him sink through the air, strike . against a pinnacle of the tower, and then rebound like a ball. I remembered nothing more until I recovered consciousness, many hours after, and found myself in bed.