The Osceola times., 1877-07-28
A RACE FOR LIFE. ,
from Cassells Magazine.l

"My dear fellow, am delighted to see
YOU" exclaimed my 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 unnaturally the conversation turned
upon the weather.
81 am sorry this rain continues" said
McCausland; sit spoils my water supply.
People bully me as if ! could help It"
"Are your reservoirs near the town."
| asked. NO" he replied, "away in the
hills. We can 60 over tomorrow ifyou
like. I'm due there"
The excursion was arranged. We
agreed to start at eleven o'clock ext morn.
ing, and we started punctually. We
pursued eur 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 way
to bad language, we pulled up, at anoth-
er small inn called the Reservoir" We
got out of the gig gladly.
An engineer torman hurried up and ac-
costed us politely.
Ts all right, Johnson?" inquired Nc.
Causland. "Yes, all is right; but"
"Well, but what?"
81 don't quite like the South Reser-
voir embankment, was the reply.
McCausland turned pale to his very
lips.
"Come with me-" he said abruptly.
We hurried after him in silence, and with
a strange dread upon us.
We soon came in sight of the extensive e
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 few men to
puddle up this" said McCausland, in
dicating tiny crack that would have
escaped less experienced eyes.
We then continued our inspection, but
during our progress round the works the
clouds had masscd 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 lew moaning sound was in the air.
II was not the wind, for the breeze had
strangely lulled The men had all gone
up to the reservoirs. McCausland and
sat chatting together.
ado you think you could find your
way back alone ?" he asked suddenly
"WhyT" | said. ado you intend to
remain here? Is there any danger ?"
"Well scarcely that; but / think /
ought to be on the spot. will return
tomorrow or the next day."
"Cannot stay too?"
Certainly, il you desire il. We rough
it up here, though"
81 do not mind that" replied. So it
was settled. Fortunate it was that I did
remain. As we were preparing to visit
the sluices again We were startled by vivid
fash of lightning, 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 up, and danced
down the hill-sides, in white array. Tiny
waterfalls swelled themselves into catsr
acts, and foamed down to the streams
Butstill the men worked hard amid the
gathering gloom and thunder by lantern.
light, and nature rested not that hvelong
night.
But turned in and got some sleep in
defiance ct the elemental war without
At five o'clock in the morning, as the
gray light was struggling into life, Nc