Page:History and adventures of Jack Mansong.pdf/17

17. Faint and weary she was often obliged to rest herself beneath the spreading fig-tree, her tender limbs unused to such excessive fatigue sunk beneath her ; her lips were parched with fever ; but still the lively colour revelled unfaded on her lovely cheek. The hope of recovering her beloved Orford, in whose absence life was insupportable, and the happy presages of her soul making that wished-for event as certain, supported her resolution, and made her persevere with a courage rarely to be met with in her sex, more especially when the peculiar delicacy of her constitution is considered.

By violent exertion he climbed the craggy steep that overlooked Old Crawford Town, where still was visible the ravages of the fire. The evening fast approached, and the dread thunder was heard to reveberate at a short distance. The dazzling lightning played around, and the rain fell in torrents down the mountain’s side. Rosa saw a narrow dismal path, leading to a more dismal cave; and she enters the gloomy abode, where none but the robber or wretched in heart could dwell. The arched vault, formed by the rough hand of Nature, and the obnoxious vapours that assailed her, impressed her mind with dismal fears. She dreaded to proceed, yet the still more gloomy horrors that play’d around the cave’s mouth, impelled her to seek a refuge. She accordingly bent her steps to the interior of the cave, where the chilly dew, hanging on the, projecting crag, dropt upon her like ice, and froze her heart. She now came to the mouth of another descent, which led still deeper into the gloomy abode ; and, to her infinite surprise, beheld a taper burning beneath! She uttered a faint scream, and fell down the rocky descent into the cave, where the glimmering taper helped to lessen its gloom.