The Dugdale Millions — page 285: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

IN IMMINENT PERIL. 275 Dick to let himself drop on to the roof of the cab, which he did, falling weak and exhausted. . The danger that Merrimount and Bessie were now in was more real than appeared from below. Bessie, while grasping Dick's feet, had maintained her hold by her right hand clinging to a small tree. When Merrimount had bade her let go her hold on Dick, she had obeyed, and at the same time relaxed her grip upon the tree by which she had supported herself. The consequence was, she was wholly borne up by Merrimount, who was almost thrown over the rocks by this additional weight. He spoke to her caimly, telling her to take hold again, but, receiving no reply, he found that she had fainted in his arms, in that ext ‘raordinary position. The passengers had poured out of the train, and every- thing was confusion below, as Dick was lifted from the cab. Mera mpunt could not make himself heard by those beneath, and so, knowing that he must either push himself back, or finally succumb to the dead weight of Bessie’s body, momentarily growing heavier and heavier, began a desperate effort to wriggle back- ward to a position where he would have a greater leverage. He received unexpected assistance. It was Wallis who, perceiving his pr grag ae when recovering from the partial swoon inio wl by fright, had come to his assistamce, and grasping him by the aukies was pulling him backward. As slight as the assistance was, It was just sufficient, and in a moment he was safe on secure rock with Bessie still in his arms. She recovered almost immediately, and their descent to the track was quickly accomplished. _ Making their way to Dick they found him standing in a group of curious people, who were endeavoring to elicit some explanation from him, ragged and torn, with blood on his face and hands, dazed by the shocks comiclboolks (SO)