The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-12-09

ready TO promise anything when | heard
this; and when | assured him that | would
be as secret as the grave, he bade me bring
my old horse TO Riders Cave on the fol-
lowing night, punctually at twelve He
would be there TO meet me, bot | was to
ask no questions. There might be trifie
of risk IN what / should have TO do, but
nething wrong at least, Tom saw Go
harm IN it, though others might.
''It's smuggling - | said to myself
and | thought of Mary, who would sooner
die than know me 10 do anything that was
not just right. | was about to say no to
Toms offer; but Mary s wan face rose up
before me, and as [ remembered how bit
ing want was dragging her down to her
grave, l grew desperate.
I'm your man, Tom, risk or no risk.
I'll be there TO my time, never fear ms :"
He grasped the hand | held out, left a
shilling in il, and with a nod walked or,
leaving me with weight on my cons
science that had never rested upon it be-
fore. AL that day and the n"xt, could
not meet Mary's eye without feeling as if
l were hiding crime from her.
When evening came | told her | was
wanted for little Job of moving at the
next village, and should not be home till
late She never doubted the tale, but
smiled and kissed me when | went away,
leading old Bob by the bride. and fancy
ing that had never seen darker night,
nor heard the wind roam SO dismally be-
fore.
l. = - 4oI n oE -,
most lonely paris of the Cornish coast, and
there is not house within couple of
miles of the spot. After riding for about
half an hour, | came out of the lanes on
To the beach, and another mile or go along
the foot of the cliffs brought me to the
cave As rode into il | heard voice
say cautiously, "All right, John, the boat
will be here directly y and | was not
sorry TO find Tom Davies mounted on a
cob alongside of me.
Handing me flask with some brandy
in it. he bade me take nip at the same
time telling me with M little glee that the
''coastics, were mapping, and We should
do them jolly -
After waiting some few minutes we
heard the regular click of oars in tie row
locks, followed by tie grating of boats
keel on the shingle.
we rode out and soon hal several par
GELS strapped on either side of the horses :
then. with scarcely word spoken we set
off; Tom giving me instructions where
10 leave my load, and adding that it would
be as we'll to part as soon as we got of
the beach.
Away we went, but only TO find out
frst-ust as we quilted the shore-that
the Coast-guardsmen were not mapping
after all |; two of them sprang upon US
from behind boulder. and clutched at
swerved, and that saved Us.
s'Spur for your life - muttered Tom in
my ear, at the same moment riding his
stsunch little cob right at the men, saw
one OF them roll over On the sand, while
the othe: Jumped aside, shouting to us tc
stop, but we never paused until we were
some distance down the lane leading from
the beach. Then Tom pulled up. "We
must part now," he said. keep TO the
right and ride hard, for they will cut you
off if they can where the lane winds to-
ward the coast ; bnt give the nag whip
and spur, and you will be there before
them OFF with youI" and so we parted
After Tom had left me | began to re-
member how awk wardly close to the shore
the wirdings of the lane brought it and
how easy it would be for swift runners to
take short cut across some fields and
come mp with me. Bitterly regretted
Ii off,
and telling myself, with cienched teeth
that for Mary's sake wouldn't be taken,
l rode on more furiously than before.
The nearer | got to the sea, The more !
! dreaded a surprise, and it seemed as if
were so long threading the ins and outs of
my road, tha; they must be the first to
reach the spot where anticipated danger.
Suddenly | was seized with the idea that
if could leap the hedge i might evade
| them, and quick as thought put Bob at
the dark line of thorn bushes that looms
ahead, just where the lane made the last
sharp turn TOWARD! the beach.
/ remember the rising in the air, the
crash through the top of the hedge, and
my own fall, which was followed by the
most unearthly yell it is possible to ina
! gine-a shrek that seemed to die away
into the bowels of the earth. Then a
hundred stars danced before my eyes
there was a strange dizziness in my head
all grew dark and knew no more.
How long lay before coming to myself
/ cannot tell nor could recollect. for a
! considerable time after my senses returned,
what it was that had happened. Numbed
with the intense cold, was lying on my
back with the wind shreking above me
but where was the horse and what
meant the awful yell | heard after taking
the leap?
/ found that I was lying on slope,
and turning over on my right side reach
ed out one hand intending TO lean upon it
and raise myself To my horror grasp