Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-07-01

him pardoned, on condition that be
should secretly aid and assist me. Now
Skinner, not knowing this; occasional
ly gets him to assist in loading his boat,
and was to do so this very night. OF
course he could find an opportunity of
getting at the firearms and -
Take out the bullets suggested one.
'Er-actly,' said the Captain, and so
we've nothing to fear on the score of
cold lead
Hist p observed an officer who had
just returned from the top of the little
hill Come here Cap'n, he's comingr
The officers were on their feet in an
instant, each peering through the tree
branches at spec just visible in the dis
tance, within shadow of some cliffs on
the Western shore.
Yes, it was SINNERS boat, sure enough,
there could be no doubt about that. No
other craft would so cautiously hug the
shore; besides, its peculiar appearance
as it came nearer, was familiar enough to
the unseen watchers, each of whose hearts
beat high in anticipation of soon captur-
ing the wished-for prize.
Cautiously on came the boat. until at
length the burly form of Skinner was
distinctly seen, as he sturdily piled his
muftied oars. 1t was not long before he
arrived abreast of the point where the
ambush was concealed, and about only
half mile distant from it. Below the
cliff was moored the long boat of the Off
GERS, who now rushed down the steep to-
ward it, and in another moment were
embarked.
But the noise made getting on board
was heard by Skinner, who instantly di-
vined the cause thereof, by one strong
sweep of his starboard oar, put his boat
head on to the opposite shore Of the lake,
or, rather to one of the clusters of islands
which skirted it. All concealment was
of course at an end the Custom house
boat, manned by six oars, shot from un-
der the shadow of Owls Head. and fol-
lowed rapidly in the wake of the Snug
gler's light boat, which SKINNED over the
lake surface with astonishing rapidity.-
1t was on one side a race for gold and
glory, on the other struggle for life or
death.
For some little time the speed of the
boats appeared pretty near equal, spite
of the fearful odds against the smuggler,
who, to tighten his craft, every now and
then was seen to throw parcel after par
Gel overheard. By the time they had
reached the middle of the lake the pur-
suers had slightly gained on the fugitive,
and continued gradually to lessen the
distance between them. They were now
rapidly approaching the western side of a
long, low island, which was covered with
trees, and long, trailing foliage to the wa
ter's edge, and Skinner, dexterously
changing his course, made for its most
Northern point. In this manouvre his
light craft had an advantage over the
heavy boat of the officers. She slightly
shot ahead, but his advantage did not con-
tinue, for, maddened by excitement, the
SIX oarsmen now bent to their work, and
IN ten minutes more not ten yards inter-
vened between them and Skinner, who,
on his part, put forth all his energies
He felt it was now neck or nothing with
him, and governed himself accordingly.
Still nearer, and now, a vigorous leap.
er might almost have jumped from one
boat into the other. The spirits of the
pursuers were at the highest-the excite
ment Of the chase animated every one
when just as Captain Tredgold was Civ.
ing orders to grapple the smuggler's boat
the latter made sudden turn round 8
rocky point, and in sporting parlance wa.
no where"
1t was as if boat and boatman ha(
suddenly been engulphed in the lake, fol
on Immediately afterwards rounding h,
same point, neither Skinner nor his Graf
were to be seen. The officers stared II
blank bewilderment on each other. An,
Mr. Joseph Plugs opinion that Skinner
had to do with the devil, was no longel
peculiar to himself.
/ That Skinner was gone was cIeal
enough but where? was the question
The boats crew landed on the island anc
searched every inch of its surface, bu
without success. It was quite improba
bic that he could have escaped to th,
mainland unseen--he might then be con
eealed among the rocks on the shores o
the island. These were searched anC
they iound-nol Skinner, but his empl,
boat The conclusion then arrived al
was, that the smuggier. rather than 4.