The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1877-08-03
A RACE FOR LIFE.
[From Cassell's Magazine. ]


sMy dear fellow, am delighted to see
you," exclaimed nv friend McCausland,
as he met me at the door of his house.
| had gone on visit to HOlmesdale, a
little town in the north of England. Nc
Causland was engineer to the water COM
pany there; and had invited me to go
down for week.
After the usual interval for dressing,
we sat down to an excellent little dinner.
Not unDaturally the conversation turned
upon the weather.
Il am sorry this rain continues" said
McCausland; cit spoils my water supply.
People bully me as if l could help it. -
'Are your reservoirs near the town."
l asked. "NO," he replied, "awaY in the
hills. We can go over tomorrow ifyou
like. I'm due there"
The excursion was arranged. We
agreed to start at eleven o'clock next morn
ing; and we stated pthctually. We
pursued eur way up the hill, and cross
ing the brow, reached a small inn. Here
we found a country gig awaiting us. In
to this we clambered, and proceeded along
wooded by-road, stony and rut-full. At
length, when hope had almost given way
to bad language, we pulled up, at anoth-
got out of the gig gladly.
An engineer torman hurried up and ac-
costed US politely.
ais all right; Johnson?" inquired Nc
Causland. eyes, all Is right; but
"Well; but what?"
al don't quite like the South RGser-
voir embankment, twas the reply.
McCaUsland turned pale to his very
lips.
''Come with me-" he said abruptly.
We hurried after him in silence, and with
strange dread upon us.
We soon came in sight of the extensive
embankment, which confined the waters of
the largest of the three reservoirs of the
Ho1mesdale Company.
"This is the spot l was looking at this
morning, said johnson.
"You had better have a few men to
puddle up this" said McCausland, in
dicating a tiny crack that would have
escaped 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
viaduct near Ammering Junction.
A low moaning sound was in the 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.
"Why?' / said. "Do you intend to
remain here? Is there any danger p
"Well scarcely that; but l think ]
ought to be on the spot. | will return
tomorrow or the next day."
"Cannot l stay too?"
Certainly, if you desire it. We rough
it up here, though"
''I do not mind that" l replied. So it
was settled. Fortunate it was that l did
remain. As we were preparing to visit
the sluices again we were startled by vivid
flash of lightning, which had hardly passed
when the rocks rang out with thousand
thunder echoes.
This was the signal. The windows oi
heaven opened, and a perfect deluge
descended upon the devoted valley.
The little brooks leaped up, and danced
down the hill-sides, in white array. Tiny
waterfalls swelled themselves into catar
acts, and foamed down to the streams
ButstilI the men worked hard amid the
gathering gloom and thunder by lantern
! light, and nature rested not that livelong
night.
But I turned in and got some sleep in
defiance of the elemental war without.
At five o'clock in the morning, as the
gray light was struggling into lite, Nc
Causland came, fully dressed, into my
room. | started up.
'Dress yourself as quickly as you can,
and come down stairs" he said. | began
to ask questions. close no time, there's
a good fellow; want your assistance u
He lett the room.
l jumped up at once, hurried to the
window and looked out. Day was just
breaking through the misty sky, and all
| the wsrld was raining.
Ever and anon a sharp snap denoted q
bough torn from its place and whirled to
to the soaking earth.
/ l dressed quickly and Joined McCaus-
land in the little parlor. He was study
| ing a private copy of the railroad time
tables, Which as an official he always
carried.
''Will Won take the horse and ride down
| to Ammering Junction with a message ?'
! His collected manner assured me
Was this all? y ride through the rain was
not much. "Of course, will go'
He grasped my hand firmly care
you nervOus?' he said, as he held it il
his own steady grasp.
Nonsense replied, laughing; '.rl
I be ready in five minut-s if it's important
Is the horse here 7'
ran up for my waterproof When
came down the horse was at the door, an,
McCausland inspecting him. mounted
Now" l said, ''for this great mes
sage, if you please" McCausland's tons