The star of Pascagoula. [volume] (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1873-1878, 1877-07-27
A RACE FOR LIFE.
From Cassell's Magazine.

Only dear fellow, I am delighted to sec
YOU" exclaimed my friend McCausland
as he met me at the door of his house.
| had gone on a 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 90
down for a week.
After the usual interval for dressing,
we sat down to an excellent little dinner.
Not unnaturally the conversation turned
upon the weather.
Il am sorry this rain continues" said
McCausland; sit spoils my watersupply.
People bully me as if | could help it,"
"Are your reservoirs near the town."
| asked. "No," he replied, away in the
hills. We can 90 over tomorrow ifyOu
like. I'm due there"
The excursion was arranged. We
agreed tostart at eleven O'Clock next morn
ing, and we started punctuallv, We
pursued our 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
a wooded 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 ac-
Costed us politely.
as 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.
hurried after him in silence, and with
a strange dread upon us.
We soon came in sight of the extensive
embankment, which onfinedt 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 a few men to
puddle up this" said McCausland, in
dicating a tiny crack that would have
escaped less ex 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 low moaning sound was in the air.
1t was not the wind, for the breeze had
strangely lulled. The men had all gone
sat chatting together.
"Do you think you could find your
way back alone ?" he asked suddenly.
why? ?" | said. "Do you intend to
here? Is there any danger?"
"Well scarcely that; but | think |
to be on the SPOT | will return
to morrow or the next dly."
Cannot | stay too?"
Certainly, if you desire it. We rough
t up here, though"
81 do not mind that" | replied. So it !
vas settled. Fortunate it was that | did
As we were preparing t visit {
he sluices again we were startled by vivid
lightning, which had hardly passed t
When the rocks rang out with a thousand t
hunder echoes. i
This was the signal. The windows of r
'eaven opened, and a perfect deluge v
escended upon the devoted valley. C
he little brooks leaped up, and danced $
own the hill-sides, in white array. Tiny a
'aterfalls swelled themselves into catar
cts, and foamed down to the streams. t
Butstill the men worked hard amid the '
altering gloom and thunder by lantern. o
ght, and nature rested not that l~ivelong 81
light. 5
But | turned in and got some sleep in b
OF the elemental war without. o.
At five O'Clock in the morning. as the u
light was struggling into life, Nc Ii
ausland came, fully dressed, into my tc
,om. | started up. n,
Dress yourself as quickly as you can, IL
I'd come down stairs" he said. l began &c
ask questions. "Lose no time. there's bI
good fellow; | want your assistance" ne
left the room. bl
] jumped up at once, hurried to the OIL
indow and looked out. Day was Just st
through the misty sky, and all CT
e world was raining. dI
Ever and anon a sharp snap denoted a III
ugh torn from its place and whirled to til
the soaking earth. vi
l dressed quickly and Joined McCaus- fu
nd in the little parlor. He was study.
g a private copy of the railroad time 70