The Osceola times., 1877-07-28


a good fellow; want your assistance"
He lett the room.
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.
Ever and anon sharp snap denoted a
bough torn from its place and whirled to
to the soaking earth.
dressed quickly and joined McCaus-
land in the little psrlor. He was study
ing a private copy of the railroad time
tables, Which as an official he always
carried.
"Wil you take the horse and ride down
to Ammering Junction with message?"
Wasthis all ? A ride through the rain was
not much. "Of course, will CO."
d. He graspef my hand firmly. care
you nervousY" he said, as he held it in
his own steady grasp.
Nonsense" | replied, laughing; "Pll
be ready in five minutes if it's important.
Is the horse here ?"
ran up for my waterproof. When !
came down the horse was at the door, and
McCausland inspecting him. mounted.
"Now," | said, "for this great mes
sage, if you please" McCausland's tone
had something very solemn in it, as he
replied; | -. .,. =.
Junction, and any people you see, that
the south reservoir will not last three
hours. 1t will bust down the valley, and
will destroy the Apps viaduct and carry
away the bridges on the Holmesdale
branch. Stop the traffic, and save the
passengers. God bless you; and, bark
ye, ride for your life. l will fire the sig
nal cannon as warning. Good bye"
Ammering Junction was some miles
away. My route lay through an I'M
known country, across moorland inter-
sected by flooded streams and swept by
the fierce wind and rain.
must do it, thou ght, as my horse
picked his CAUTIOUS way amid the loose
stones down the steep byroad we had AZ
cended the previous day. | should need
all my strength, though, to execute my
task, so ! pressed on. A valuable slice
out of my time had been expended when
| reached the broad highway and urged
my horse to speed. l had to turn off
again, knew, but l fnncied / should
easily find the path. Besides, was there
not sign-pest? =?
| reached the turning and pulled up to
read the direction l should take. ]
nearly tainted with horror as / read. The
fatal finger pointed up the cross-road |
was pursuing--To Holmesdale and Sea-
ham. The opposite index pointed-to
Ruddall and Ammering. l could scarce
credit my senses. Surely ! was right /!
We had come up the previous day, and
up the hill to the reservoirs. / had merely
to reverse the route had travelled. This
was terrible mistake. 1t was now past 6
O'Clock. One of the three precious hours
had elapsed, and | was further from Am
mering than when | started. ! was
seized with despair; whatever could do
now? Two hours remained, and ! had
three uphill miles to ride, and then
about seven more across the moor before
I could reach the Junction, and before
that the trains might have started, and
thIen-l
burst out into a cold perspiration at
the thought, and then desperate, and
only half conscious, / rode madly back
to the Ammering road, and up the hill
again.
The SUBMITS of the neighboring hills
were shrouded in veil of mist, but far
in advance, on the level, | could trace
the railroad line. From the elevation
at which stood, could trace the chan
mel of the Apps river down the valley;
and could guess the spot at which
the food would strike the railroad, and
the branch line over the spur of the hill.
| could Just distinguish the Junction in
the middle distance. A dark smoke
appeared to be rising from it an engine
perhaps waiting to start with a train,
and ! was lingering on the hill. All
this, and more, could perceive as !
rested on the summit. Somewhat refresh
ed, rode manfully forward into the
storm.
How my horse kept his feet do not
to this hour understand.
was quite alone, not human being
insight, but suddenly the whistle of "a To-
comotive was carried to my ears. An
engine moved out of the station. An
other whistle shortly after ward. That
train was safe. watched it glide away
over the viaduct. Five minutes later l
rode into the station, and called for the
station>master. AsI dismounted the
clock struck eight. The time was up
and no signal from McCausland. Tele-
graphing would now be easy. A porter
came out in response To my summons.
"I'm sorry We lost the express"
he began.
81 don't want the train, | replied, ~
must telegraph at once through. Where
is the station-master ?"
''He'll be here in minute. But We
can telegraph. The wires are blown
down. we had to send pilot with the
express to clear the line up to Hand
leigh"
mot telegraph ! Itell you, man, Imust
stop the traffic. The South Holmesdale
reservoir will burst this very hour"
"Can that be true ?" inquired cool,
gentlemanly man at my elbow. II was
the staion-master himself.
"True 4" l echoed. at is only too
true. have ridden to tell you. We
must stop the trains"
The excursion leaves Handleigh at
$685. unused the station-i9aster. There
may be time; come With me-" He
crossed the line and entered shed oppo-
site. followed. Just then a loud boom
ing sound rent the air. The sound came
back from the hills like thunder. 1
"It is the signal, exclaimed. The
water is out. Heaven help us now J"
The station master called out. A clean
er appeared. "Is that engine readyr"
eyes, sir, waiting for the excursion"
"Run and omen the poipts Now. sir