UNKNOWN

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 313, 11 January 1908, Page 3

UNKNOWN

THE UOMASUJ3 OF A MIKACULOUS JiSCAI'K. Olio glorious summer's day about a year ago, a gentleman and his daughter, who were staying at a small seaside town in the South of out tor a walk, accompanied by a little .Maltese terrier.

Their way lay across an expanse ot grass on the ton of some elills, against whose base the sea broke continually, making a pleasant suggestion of couluess on a hut day. The daughter, who was a young, high-spirited girl, ran on in front, with the terrier barking gaily at her heels, leaving her father to tollow a slioit distance behind.

Suddenly, before either she or her father could do anything to avert the approaching danger, a eow, recently separated from her calf, and consequently dangerous to strangers, caught sight of the dog, and made a furious rush at it. The terrier quickly removed itself from the vicinity of the cow, but its mistress was not so fortunate. She appeared to be paralysed with terror, and for a few momenta did absolutely nothing to save herself. Then, heedless of her father's warning cries, she fledj from the pursuing cow straight towardß the edge of the cliff. In another second she had disappeared with a piercing shriek over the brink. Her unhappy father turned sick with horror as he sped, with the energy of despair, towards the verge of the cliffs. How could hi dare to face the terrible sight which would meet his eyes on looking over? Suddenly his heart almost ceased to beat. Surely that was his daughter's voice which called to him in shaky, but reassuring tones? Summoning up all his courage, he lay down on the springy turf and peered over. Instead of seeing his daughter's lx>dy tossed to and fro by the hungry waves he beheld her supported by a gentleman! The two were standing in a little garden made on the clifl'-side some ten ' feet below, which neither father nor daughter had noticed. In this garden a gentleman had been seated calmly reading, and enjoying the view over the sea. Startled suddenly by a scream, he had jumped up hastily, just in time to see a girl's body hurtling through the air towards him. Fortunately ho was able to catch her, and saved her from a terrible fate. TV father and daughter were overcome with joy at the latter's fortunate escape from what might have I>cen a horrible death.