The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1877-08-02
A RACE FOR LIFE.
From CasSell's Magazine,

"My dear fellow, | am delighted to sec
YOU" exclaimed my friend McCausIand
rs he met me at the door OF his house
had gone on visit to lIolmesdalc, 4
little town in hen0rth of England. Nc
Causland was engineer to the water com
pany there, and had invited me to &C
down for week.
After the usual interval for dressing,
we sat down to an excellent little dinner.
Not unnaturally the conversation turned
upon tho weather.
Il am sorry this rain continues" said
McCausland; at spoils my water supply
People bully me as if could help it.
care your reservoirs near the town."
| asked. "No," he replied, "awaY in the
hills. We can 20 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 started punctually We
pursued eur way up the hill, and cross
ing the brow, reached small inn. Here
we found a country gig awaiting us. In
to this we clambcred, and proceeded along
awooded by-road stony and rut-full, AT
length, when hope had almost given way
to bad language, we pulled up, at anoth-
err small inn called the Reservoir" We
got out of the gig gladly.
An engineer forman hurried up and &C.
costed us politely.
ais all right, Johnson" inquired Me
Causland. eyes, 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
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
CSNdptl !tSo On pCiitIi'tu '1No'
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 graceful
viaduct near Ammering Junction.
A low moaning sound was in the air.
I ~ ,,,;,,l e. ,hn Ir.a,n 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.
dWhy?" | 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 it. We rough
it up here, though"
81 do not mind that" | replied. So it
was settled. Fortunate it was that 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 a perfect deluge
descended upon the devoted valley
The little brooks leaped up, and danced
down the hill.sides, in white array. Tiny
waterfalls swellcd Themselves into catar
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 livelong
night.
But ! turned in and got some sleep in
defiance Of tine elemental war without
At five o'clock in the morning, as the
gray light was struggling into life, Nc.