Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1877-08-11
ARACE FOR LIFE.

We have met the enemy-theY are oursl
ARACE FOR LIFE.
wMy dear fellow, / am. delighted to see
Won - exclaimed nv friend McCausland.
as he met me at the door OF ms mouse.
had GONE on a visit to Holmesdale, q
little town i'm the north of England. Nc
Cousland was engineer to the water COM
nanv there. and had invited me to 60
down for week. -
Amer the usual interval of dressing, we
sat down to an excellent little dinner.
Not unnaturally the conversation turned
upon the weather.
81 am sorry this rain continues" said
McCausland; lit spoils my water supply.
PEOPLE bully me as if could help il"
~Are your reservoirs near the town = l
asked.
"No," he replied, ''away in the hills.
We can 90 over to-morrew.i if youlike. l
am due there"
The excursion was arranged. We
agreed to start at IL o'clock next morn
ing, and we started punctually. We
pursued our way up the hill, and, cross
ing the brow, reached small inn. Here
we found country gig awaiting Us. In.
to this we clambered, and proceeded
along a wooded by-road, stony and rut-
full. At length, when hope had almost
given away % bad language, we pulled
up at another small inn called the sRes-
ervoir.n We got out of the gig gladly.
An engineer foreman hurried up and
accOsted us politely. - .W...
SIS all right, Johnson inquired SIC
Causland.
"Yes. all is right; butt"
sWell, but what !" q - Gas "a 10
81 don't quite like the south reservoir
embankment," was the reply. -
McCausland turned pale TO his very
Come with me- he said abruptly.
We hurried after him in sil,ice, and with
y strange dread upon us.
We soon came in site of the extensive
embankment, which confined the waters
of the largest of the three reservoirs of
the Holmesdale company. %
This is the spot ! was looking at this
morning." said johnson. -
"You had better have q few men te
puddle up this" said McCansland, indi.
eating tiny crack that would have es-
capped less experienced eyes.
We then continued our Inspection, but
during our progress round the works the
clouds had massed themselves in wild
grandeur above the hills, and lay heavily
above the Apps Valley in front. The
railroad crossed the valley on a graceful
yiaduct near Ammerins Junction.
A low moaning sound was In tho air.
1t was not the wind, for the breeze had
strangely lulled. The men had all gone
up to the reservoirs. McCausland and /
sat chatting together.
.Do you think you could find your way
back alone ?" he asked suddenly. ".gga
.Why 2" said. ssDo you intend to re-
main here? Is there any danger %
swell, scarcely that; but l think l
ought to be on the spot: will return
tomorrow or next day.. e.sIs. e
.'Can not stay too?'' .....-...f,
Certainly, if you desire it. We rough
1t up here thougb." .bss5d ~.
81 do not mind that" replied. So ii
was settled. Fortunate it was that did
remain. As we were preparing to visit
the sluices again we We're startled by q
vivid flash OF lightning, which had hard
ly passedwhen the rocks rang out with a
thousand thunder echoes. - 80
This was the signal, The windows OF
heaven opened, and a perfect deluge de-
scended upon the devoted valley. The
little brooks leaped up, and danced down
the hill-sides, In white array. Tiny wa
terfalls swellod themselves into cataracts,
and foamed down to the streams.
But still the men worked hard amid
the gathering gloom and thunder by
lantern light, and nature rested not that
livelong night. A re's=eA sst s,
But turned I'm and got some sleep in
defiance of the elemental war without.
At s. o'clock in the morning, as the gray
light was struggling into life, McCaus-
land came, fully dressed, into my room.
started up. ~ ~ - -
"Dress yourself as quickly as you can
and come down stairs" he said. i began
to ask questions. "Lose no time, there's
good fellow; / want your assistance"
He left the room. "a
Jumped up at once, hurried to, the
window and looked out. Day was just
breaking through the misty sky, and all
the world was raining. srarl t1sfasl
Ever and anon sharp snap denoted a
Dougn torn from its place and whirled to
the soaking earth. sE uoaI 80 !.
1 dressed quickly and joined McCaus-
ianu Id the little parlor. He was study
Ing private copy Of the railroad time
carried.
"wni you take the horse and ride down
to Ammeriig Junction with A mes
sage ?" NJ " =
His collected manner assured a. Was
this all? A ride, through the rain was
not much. "Of course, I will eo'n -
He grasped my hand FIRMLY : sAre
you nervous % he said, as he held II IN
his own steady grasp - m '->N.' AZ
"Nonsense," replied, laughing .ru
be ready in FIVE minutes if it is imnortant
Is The horse here ?"
ran up for my waterproofs. When I
came down the horse was at the door
and McCausland inspecting him.
message,if you please" McCausland's
tone had something very solemn in it, as
he replied: = ~
Tell the station-master at Ammerino
junction, and any people you see, that
the south reservoir will not last three
hours. 1t will burst down the valley