Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-12-20

scend at intervals of some fifty yards
through the sand into the water way !;
at high water, when the mouth is COW
cred, and 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 pret-
ty full, the water will, after chasing
the air, rush out after it, and form a
spray fountain; while as the waves
recede, the wind rushes back with a
strange whistling sound, and a draught
that draws anything down into the
tunnel with fierce rush. But there
was another pecu!iarity of the hollow
way that was strangely impressed up
on my memory that night,-namely,
its power of acting as vast speaking
tube, for if person stood at one of
the escape pipes and whispered, his
words were distinctly audible to ano-
ther at the other pipe some fifty yards
off, who could as easily respond.
| 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 thrusting against
the piles with his hands, my compan-
ion worked the boat farther into the
darkness, until the keel touched the
soft sand.
That's snug" he whispered: "they'll
never find Us here
"No," | said, as a strange fear came
upon me. but isn't the tide RI
sing ?"
Fast" be said.
Then we shall be stopped from
getting out
Nonsense" he said. at will take
an hour to rise above the tunnel mouth,
and if IL did, we could run her up
higher and higher. Plenty Of fresh
air through the pipes"
IF We are not drowned" I said.
There, if you want to lose the car
60, we'll pull out at once, and give
up" he said.
"But l don't" l replied; a am
staunch enough; only | don't want to
risk my life"
Well, who does y" he said. "On-
ly keep still. and we shall be all right. y
The few minutes we had been con.
versing had been long enough to float
the boat once more, and this time ]
raised my hand to the roof and thrust
ing against the tunnel covered, weed
hung, Shiny woodwork, soon had the
boats keel again in the sand, so as tc
prevent her being sucked out by the
refux of the tide.
At times we could hear shouts, twice
pistol shots, and then we were start
led by the dull, heavy report Of a small
cannon.
That's after the chase maree, 'whis
pered my companion; but she sails
like witch. She's safe unless they
!, knock a spar away"
81 wish we were," | said, for I die
not feel at all comfortable in our dark
hole, up which we were being forced
farther and farther by the increasing
tide; while more than once we had tt
, hold on tightly by the horrible Shiny
: piles, to keep from being drawn back
Just the place to find dead bodies,
whispered my companion, evidently tC
) Startle me.
, Just so, said coldly. "Perhaps
. they'll find two tomorrow"
, Don't croak," was the polite re
joinder; and then he was silent; bu
) could hear a peculiar boring nois,
being made, and no further attempts
= at joke issued from my friends lips
, Suppose we try and get out now ?
| whispered, alter another quarter of
; an hours listening in the darkness
, and hearing nothing but the soft rip
pIing, and the drip, drip of watel
/ beyond US; while towards the moutl
came the clap, lap" of the waves az
ainst the sides of the tunnel, succeed
ed 10y rushing noise, and the rattlins
!, of the loose muSselS clustering to th'
woodwork, now loudly, now gently
! while every light rustic of the seaweeC
! seemed to send a shiver through me.
; The noise as of boring had ceaseC
. some time, and my friend now drew
my attention to one of the kegs, whicl
: he had made a hole through with hi
: knife; and never before did spirit
i come so welcome as at that moment.
b., "Better try and get out now," whis
] pered my companion.
: "They must be somewhere kandy
2 though one can't see even their boat,
said strange voice, which seemed hol
: low and echoing along the tunnel, ,whil
the rattling of the shells, and lappiny
2 of the water grew louder.
u All at once | raised my head, as il
e to feel for the hole down which tn
! sound of the voice came, when, to m,
3 alarm, struck it heavily against tn
: top of the tunnel, making it bleed ae
ainst the shelly surface.
+; "Wait a bit" said my companion
;, thickly; " they're on the lookout yet
e it's madness to go out" And | the
d heard a noise which told me, tha
e fearful or not, he was trying to drow
t consciousness in the liquor to which h
had made his way.
e However, it seemed to me madnes
l to stay where we were, to be browne
e like rats in hole; and taking advar
c tage of the next receding wave, CAV
C the boat start, and she went dow
e towards the mouth of the tunnel for
e little way. when coming current wo'
o have driven her back, only | clung
e the roof, now very low down, and rs
e ther close to which the boat now hoa