St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1867-11-29
They'll stave in the boat, and we shall
lose all the brandy"

had OF a dozen brandy kegs, and obout
the same number Of packages but there
seemed not the slightest prospect Of get
ting of, unless we happened to be unob-
served III the darkness. However, |
pulled on, and keeping off to the right,
we had the satisfaction of seeing the rev.
enue boat row straight on, as il not no.
ticing US.
keep off little now," 1 whispered,
''or we shall be ashore"
''No, no,-it's all right" was the re-
ply; ''we are ust over the swatch -
which is the local term given TO the long
channels washed out in the sand by the
tide, here and there forming deep trench
es along the coast, very dangerous for
bathers.
''By jlngo, they see us" whispered:
when my companion backed water, and
the consequence was, that the boats head
turned right in shore, and we tloated be-
tween the piles, and We're next moment,
with shipped oars, out of sight in the
outlet OF the govt.
Now, I'm not prepared to give the
derivation OF the word "Sowt," but |
can describe what it i<.-namely, the
termination, at the sea coast, OF the long
Lincolnshire land drains, IN the shape OF
a lock with yates, which are opened at
certain times, TO allow the drainage to
flow under the sand into the sea, but
carefully closed when the tide Is up, to
prevent flooding of the marsh lands, pro-
tcctcd by the high sea hank. which runs
along the coast, and acts the part Of
cliffs. From these lock-gates, a square
woodwork tunnel is formed by means of
piles driven into the shore, and crossed
with stout planks; and this covered Wa
ter way IN some cases runs Tor perhaps
two hundred wards beneath the sand
bank, then beneath the sand, and has lis
outlet some distance down the shore
while, TO prevent the air blowing the
tunnel up when the sea comes III, a couple
of square wooden pipes descend at III
i2rvals Of some fifty Yards through the
sand into the water way ; at high wa
ter. when the mouth is covered. aud the
lock gates closed. the air comes believing
and roaring up these pipes as every wave
comes in; and at times, when the tunnel
is pretty tull; tie wafer will, after chas-
in the All, rush out after il, and form i
spray fountain; while Us the waves re-
ccdr. the wind rrlshcS back with a strange
whi>tlin@ sound, and q draught that
draws anything down into the tunnel
with fierce rush. But there was anoth-
er popularity OF tue hollow way that
was strangely impressed upon my memo
ry that night, t,-namely, It's power of
acting rs 4 vast Speaking tube, for if a
pcr-on stood at one OF the escape pipes
and whispered, his words We're distinctly
audible TO another at the other pipe some
fifty yards oft, who could as easily re-
spond.
Well, it was into the mouth OF the
govt tunnel that We had now run the
boat. where We were concealed from view
certainly; and thru>tlng against the
piles with his hands. my companion
worked the boat farther into the dark
ness. until the keel touched the soft sand
That snug," he whispered "they'lI
never find IL, here"
"No," l said, rs a strange fear came
upon me. but isn't the tide rising p
Fast" lie said.
Then we shall be stopped from get
ting out
Nonsense" lie said. 1T will takG
an hour to rise above the tunnel mouth.
and If it did, we could run her head uE
higher and higher. Plenty Of fresh all
through the pipes
''It we're not drOwncd,' said.
''Ihcrc, if YOU want to lose the cargo
we'll pull out at once, and give up" Ii,
said.
But l DON'T" 1 replied; Il an
stanch enough; only don't want to ri>l
my life
.Well, who does ~ he said. '.Onl,
keep still, and VIC shall he al right"
The lew minutes we had been con
versing had been long enough for tn,
tide to float the boat once more, and thI
time | raised my hand to the root, an'
thrusting against the tunnel covered
weed hung, Shiny woodwork, soon ha,
the boats keel again in the sand, So "a
to prevent her being sucked out 10y tn
retiux OF the tide.
At times We could hear shouts, twic
pistol shots. and then We were startle
by the dull, heavy report of Il small can
} non.
|. That's after the cAusse-maree," whis
pered my companion; but she sails lk
a witch. Shes safe unless they knock
spar away"
81 wish we were,' | said, for | di
not feel at all comfortable i'll our dar
5 hole, up which we were being forced taI
ther and farther by the increasing tide
while more than once we had to hold o
tightly by the horrible Shiny piles, t
keep from being drawn back.
: Just the place to find dead bodies,
whispered my companion, evidently
5 >lartlc me.
: Just So" l said coldly. 'PerhaE
{ they'll fin! two Tomorrow"
2 Don't croak," was the polite rejoinC
I er; and then he was silent; but couI
| hear a peculiar boring noise being made
S and no further attempts at a joke issue
e from my friends lips.
: Suppose We try and get out now
+ | whispered, after another quarter of a
Y hours listening in the darkness, al
e hearing nothing but the soft ripping, al
: the "drip, drip of water beyond u:
y while towards the mouth came the ''la,
e tap of the waves against the sides of Il
5 tunnel, succeeded by a rushing noise, al
e the rattllng of the loose mussels cluste
9 ing to the woodwork, now loudly, no
gently; while every light rustic of II