St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1867-11-29

the water grew louder.
All at once | raised my head, as if TO
feel for the hole down which the sound of
the voice came, when. to my alarm,
struck it heavily against the top of the
tunnel, making it bleed against the shelly
surface.
''Wait Bit" said my companion,
thlckly; ''they're on the look out yet ;
its madness to 20 out" And then
heard noise which told me, that fearful
or not, lie was trying TO drown con-
sclousness in the liquor to which he had
made his way.
However, it seemed to me madness to
stay where we were. TO be drowned like
rats in hole; and taking advantage of
the next receding wave, | gave the boat
a start. and she went down towards the
mouth of the tunnel for little wav.
when coming current would have driv-
en- her back, only clung to the roof.
now very low down, and rather close TO
which the boat now tioated. Another
thrust, and | pushed her some distance
down; but with the next wave that
came in, my hand was jammcI against
the Shiny roof, and umncrved with hor-
ro:, gasped: Rouse up, Harry, the
mouths under water
l!ol!owly sounded NV voice as the
wave sank, and lett once more free.
AMI in sheer despair forced the boat low
CT down the tunnel but this time, when
the tide came i'll again, had 10 lie right
back, the boat rose 80 high, and telt the
dripping sea weed hanging from the roof
sweep coldly and slimily over my face :;
when, before ;,the next wave could raise
us, | thrust eagerly at the side, forcing
the boat inward again, but in the fear
and darkness. got her across the tunnel.
- that head and stern were wed.ed, and
rs the next rush of water came, it smote
the boat heavily, and made her fixture,
50 that, in spite Of my efforts, could not
move her either way.
Wash Game the water aglin and again.
and At every dash Il portion came into
the boat, drenching me TO the skin :
while now became aware that Harry
llodSon. my companion. was lving stu
pctied across the kegs. and breathing
heavily.
made one more effort to move the
boat, but it was tighter than ever AMI
after conqueriug IN insane desire to dive
uut. and try and swim 10 tile mouth.
let myself cautiously down on the inner
side. and stood with the water breast
high, clInglnc 10 the gunwale OF the boat.
The next moment II rose above nv
mouth, lifting me from INV feet, and ;ls il
rushed back. sucked nv Ices beneath the
boat but gained NV feet again, and
began 10 wade inward.
let strong upon me rs was the desire
for life, | could not leave my companion
TO his fate i'll 20 cowarIIv Il way 50
turned back. and this time swimming,
reached the boat. now nearly full of wa,
ter; and halt dragging. half lifting, got
his body over the side. and holding on
by his collar. tried once more for bottom.
But il WIS Il horrible time there in thc
dense black darknr>S.-a darkness that
i'll my distempcred brain. seemed to b'
pcopici with hldeouS forms, swimming
crawling, and waiting TO dcvour us. o,
told us IN their slimv coils The drip
ping water sounded hollow and cchoing
strange whispers and cries seemed float
ing around; the muSselS ru>tlcd together
and ever louder and louder came I'm
''lap, lap, lapping" of the wafer a. /
rushed IN and dashed against the side
and ceiling of the horrible place.
was now clinging with one hand t
the boats side, while with the other
held tightly by llod>on's collar; bu
though | waited till the wave reccde,
before tried the bottom. 1t was not 4
bc touched; 80, shuddcring and horro
stricken. | waited the coming wave. am
struck Oft. swimming with all my might
1t wa, only u minutes task but whe
after twice trying. my feet touched tn
bottom, was painting heavily, and :
nervous. that | had 10 lean, trembling
, and shaking. against the side. But
, had tight hold OF IIod,Om, whose hea
| managed to keep above wafer: and i
. was not until warned of my danger b
| the rising tide, and the difficulty toun
, IN keeping nv ieet, that AGAIN essaye
, to press forward.
Just then. something cold and WI
, swept across my face, and dashing OF
| Inv arms to keep off some monster of til
: deep, nv hands came in contact with
round body which beat against my breas
: and in my horror, rs | dashed away.
2 was some PAGES ere the draggin" at m
4 limb told me that had left my conrad
TO his fate The next moment. how
| ever. he was swept up to Inc and on(
K more clutching his collar, and keepin
: his head above water, waded slow
; along the tunnel, when again | nearl
n lost INV hold, tor the same wet slim
D body swept across my face; but .raisir
nv hand, | only dashed away one of ii
y LONG strands OF bladder weed which hur
o thickly from the cross timbers of Il
roof
S 1t was no hard matter to bear Ii
companion along with me, for had on
/ to keep his head up, his body tloatiI
d along the surface, but my foothold w
}, uncertain, for now the bottom was slim
d and my feet sunk in the ooze deeper al
deeper, for was nearing the gates thr
y which the fresh water of the marsh
n was let in and though the water w
d now only to my middle, l made my We
d with difficulty, for there was percep,
: bic current against me.
}, Breathing would have been easy, h:
e it not been tor my excitement and no
d a horrid dread seemed to check the We
+ act, for all at once heard a heavy 7
" yerberating noise, and the thought stru
le me that they were opening the gates al