The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1877-09-18
A RACE FOR LIFE.

60 down for week.
After the usual interval for dressing
we sat down to an excellent little din
ner. Not unnaturally the conversation
turned upon the weather.
81 am sorry this rain continues, sal
McCausland; 'it spoils my water sup
ply. People bully me as If coul'
help il.
Are your reservoirs near the town.
/ asked.
"No, he replied, "sway in the hills
We can go over tomorrow II you like
I'm due there.
The excursion was arranged. w
agreed TO start at ii o'clock next morn
ing, and we started punctually. w
pursued our way up the hill, and cross
ing the bow, reached n small inn. Her
we found country gig awaiting u.s.
Into this we clambered, and proceeded
along a wooded by-road, stony and rut
fult. At length, when hope had almos
given way to bad language. five pulled
up at another small inn called th'
Reservoir. We got out OF the giI
gladly.
An engineer foreman hurried mp anC
accosted us politely.
us all right, Johnson" inquireC
McCausland.
Eyes. all is right; but"
"Well, but what?'
81 don't quite like the South Reser
voir embankment, was the reply.
McCausland turned pale 10 the very
lip.
"Come with me-" he said abruptly
We hurried after him in silence with {
strange dread upon us.
We soon came ia sight OF the exten
sive embankment which confined tht
waters of the largest of the three res
ervoirs Of the Holmesdale Company.
This is the spot / was looking al
this morning" said Johnson.
"You had better have n few men 10
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 around the
works the clouds had massed them.
selves in wild grandeur above the hills,
and lay heavily above the Apps Valley
in front. The railroad crossed the val.
ley on a graceful viaduct near Ammer.
Junction.
A low, moaning sound was in the air.
IL was not the wind, for the breeze had
strangely lulled. The men had ali
gone up the reservoirs. McCausland
and | sat chatting together.
"Do you think you can find your way
back alone?" he suddenly asked.
"Why7" said. "Do you intend "a
remain here? Is there any danger"
"Well. scarcely that; but think ]
ought 10 be on the spot. j will return
tomorrow or next day"
"Can not i stay, too?"
Certainly, if you desire il. We
rough II mp here, though. ="
81 do not mind that" / replied.
So il was settled. Fortunately il
was that / did remain. As we were
preparing 10 visit the sluices again We
were restartled by a vivid fash Of light.
ming, which had hardly passed when
the rocks rang out with thousand
thunder echoes.
This was the signal. The windows
OF heaven opened, and perfect deluge
descended upon the devoted valley
The little brooks leaped mp and danced
down the hillsides in white array.
Tiny waterfalls swelled themselves in.
10 cstaracts, and foamed down into the
streams.
But still the men worked hard amid
the gathering gloom and thunder by
lantern light, and nature rested not
that liyelong night.
But | turned in and got some slesI
in defiance OF the elemental war with.
out.
At FIVE O'Clock in the morning. as the
gray light was struggling into life,
McCausland came, fully dressed, into
my room. / started mp.
Dress yourself as quickly as you
can and come down stairs. he said.
began To ask questions. Lose no
time, there's good fellow: / want
your assistance" He left the room.
i jumped up at once. hurried TO the
window and looked out. Day was lust
breaking through the misty sky, and
all the world was raining.
Ever and anon a sharp snap denoted
a bough torn from its place and whirl
ed to the soaking earth.
] dressed quickly aud Joined Nc.
Causland in the little parlor. He wss
studying private copy OF the railroad
timetable. which as an official he al
ways carried.
will you take the horse and ride
down to AmmeriDg Junction with 9
messageg"
His collected manner assured me-
Was that all? A ride through the rain
is not much.
"Of course will go.
He grasped my hand firmly. "Are
you neryous?" he said, AS be held il il
his own steady grasp.
Nonsense" i replied, laughing
"Tll be ready in five minutes il It's i'm
portant. Ia the horse hsre?"
/ ran up for my waterproofs. When
| came down the horse was at the door
and McCausland inspected him.
mounted.
Now" 1 said, "for this great mes
sage, il you please" ,McCausland'i
tone had something very solemn in il
as he replied:
"Tell the station-masteT at Ammer
ing Junction, any people you see, tha
the South Reservoir will not last thre,
hours. II will burst down the valley
and will destroy the Apps viaduct, anC
carry away the bridges on the Holmes
dale Branch. Stop the traffic and saw
the passengers. God bless you and
hark ye, ride for your life. / will FIR
the signal cannon as q warning. Goo
by"
Ammering Junction was some mile
away. My route lay through an un
known country. across moorland inter
sected by flooded streams and swept b.
the fierce wind and rain.
must do il, / thought, as my hors
picked his cautious way amid the loos
stones down the steep by-road we ha
sscended the previous day. / shoul
need all my strength, though, 10 exc
cute my task, so pressed on. A va
liable slice ont Of my time had bee
expended when / reached the broa
highway and urged my horse 10 speed
/ had 10 turn of again, knew, but
fancied / should easily find the path
Besides, was there not q sign-post?
reached the turning and pulled u
10 read the direction / should take.
nearly tainted with horror as / read.-
The fatal finger pointed up the cross
road was pursuing-to Holmesdal
and Seaham. The opposite indie
pointed-To Rupdal and Ammering. =
could scarce credit my senses. Sur,
ly, was right We had come mp th
previous day, aud mp the hill to th
reservoir. had merely 30 reverse On
route we had travelled. This was tel
rible mistake. IL was now past 81
o'clock. One Of the three preciou