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


and as it struck my side, | beat at il
savagely, though smiled at my foolish
fear the next moment, for it was one OF
the brandy kegs washed out cf the boat
But horror still seemed 10 hold me, as |
waded on farther and farther. till once
more the water began 10 deepen, and the
ooze at the bottom grew softer - |
stopped, listening to the heavy rushing
of water in front, where the drainage
escaped and washed heavily down. deep
ening the tunnel at the foot OF the doors;
while in that hollow cavermou> place.
growing smaller moment bv moment, the
rushing sound was something hid"ouS.
Danger in front, for the great gaieS mi-ht
at any time be opened and danger be
hind, where the tide was coming in cease
lessly, and deepening the water around
me with its regular beating throb. minute
by minute. Thoughts of the past anal
present seemed TO surge through ny brain
80 that / grew bewilderei ana had any
chance of escape presented itself. | cpul'.
not have ceased it. though | coull not
but tell myself that escape WAS impo>,i-
bIe \ few minutcs-ten. twenty. tliir-
ty perhaps and the black darkness seem
ed TO he growing hlackcr
Il must lie tree." | muirercj ami
dragging lIod-on's handkerchief from III
neck, | bound to my own, ard then ln;,k-
ing them fast beneath his arms. III;
among the woodwork till could fini 4.
place where could pass them through.
60 that | could secure hin from slipping
down, or being swept away L.: ihc chis-
ing and flowing OF the wafer
was not lon- in finding place bui
then the handkcrrhicl> were rut long
enough and | had 10 ALI one from my
pocket tLen | left the poor :ellow qui;r
insemsib!e and hali-lln.imS from u... o.:
the tinbcrs. And row wa.cl about.
searching for the mouth OF the air-Iipc
i'll the hope of shouting up it ;ar succor,
since felt convinced that The tide would
! etiectuaIly fill the tunnel. whiic IL. very
thought OF the gatc- nring opened hal.
maddencd me AMI needless now of who
might hear me, - that they brought -uc-
cor. hunted ;,imles>!y about, yelling AMI
/ sh:!ekimg for AID.
Il was a fearful struggle 5ciwecn rra-
son and dread and forever dreai kept
getting the upper hand now il wa> I
floating keg a.ain and s-a.n ligki.- me
dash away HOW one OF IL" packages
hurried in bv the tide; while thr >trau-r
drippings and hollow wli,pcriug- we
magniicd into an iniiniiy q: horror-
Every monster with which Imagination
has pcopled the sca seemed to hc there To-
attack me-s;range serpent ~ llz1rd-,inr
beasts. shiny and scallcd. thron..n- ;,lun-
the ceiling or up the sides. swimming
around NE, or burrowing through tn.
sand More than once. actually touch
ed some swimming object. bat tAc COLI
tact was mumcntarv. AMI ihr stranger
darted off Then reason would cam
supremacy for q while; and irving 10
COO! nv throhbing brow with. ihe water.
thought of my position. whl>g"rc! =
low PRAYERS. and cmIcIyo"'i /" compose
myself There WAS even ROW Il doghi :
the tide might no. rise high enough Ia
cover me certainly il WIS HOW III iay
breast and WAS standing with difficulty
in the sliallowcst place could pick. Thc
next moment. u the wave, rccclcl. i:
would fall 10 my waist but a-sin ii
was up to my chest and in spite OF -lram-
OF hope, despair whispered iru!y tina; /,
was now hi Eher up my chest than before.
) True but one wave in - mUnv alwal-
came higher than the Others. The tilC
, might still bc at IL height. AMI this Ia
that particular wave.
Down again nearly 10 INV waist anl
then up. up. up, mcarl. 10 my chm,
} lashing away hope and reason. Bur
: stav another glcam | wa~ >tau;iin-
| upon the soft mud, for here there WIS IA,
sand; nv feet must have sunk in.
l moved again and agaim. bu: cvei
E with the same result AMI at la-t. ,lc>
, pairingly, was clinc.m@ 10 a shell COY
: cred piece of timber III the eide, with til,
water at my chin.
| A noise, clanki,'G noise a. Of cham
rattling and iron striking iron AMI lwv
' hope fled, for | knew that thi> must ID
4 the opening Of the doors OF tie GOVT
j but, 10 my surprise, no rush OF water 10!
lowed only little came. which lappc
t against my lips, while a rush oi air smoi
t my forehead
e Voices. shouts AMI lIo,l>on's name ut
Il tered but | could not short in reply
J. Then my own name aIl gave som
| inarticulate cry hy way OF answer. Win.
Y once more reasoned seemed TO yet Tn
{ better of the dread, for | knew tina! th
: far doors of the govt had TO; been open
e ed and that they kept up the drainage
g while the pair nearest 10 Hc had oni,
y had the pressure upon them Of the watc
Y escaping from the first. And HOW
Y good bold swim, and | could have bee
g in the big pit like opening between til
e two pair of gates but the spirit WI
q gone. the nerve WAS absent and still cling
lie ing to the shelly piece Of timber, Close
my ewes. for felt that, near as rc-cI
Y seemed, | could do nothing TO aid ii. y
y for IIodson, in this time OF dread, | Ia.
g forgotten him-iorgottcn all but the grca
Is horror of the water lap, lap, tapping I;
y my lip, and occasionally reccding lts III
ID zing spray in my nostrl!s.
o Higher and higher, covering my lip
IS but by desperate effort | raised myse
rs a few inches, but only to 90 through tn
y same agonics again, rs the water 81
l. crept up and up, slowly but urely,wl,i
in this my last struggle my head touchc
ID the top timbers, the weed washed iii
W swept over it. and as forced my iingc
y round the timber TO which | clung, IN
e. body foated in the water.
* Another minute and felt that all W;
i'd over, for the water covered my face one