The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1878-01-17

Wen, scarcely that; Dut JnIuA 4
ought to be on the spot. Will return
tomorrow OF next day.
'' Cannot stay too ?"
Certainly, if you desirei it. We rough
it up here, though.
''I do not mind that, I replied. So
j. was settled. Fortunate it was that
lid remain. As we were preparing to
visit the sIuices again, we we're startled
by vivid flash of lightning, which had
hardly passed when the rocks rang out
with a thousand thunder-echOes.
This was the signal. The windows Of
heaven opened, and q perfect deluge de-
scended upon the devoted valley. The
brooks leaped up, and danced down the
hillsides in white array. Tiny waterfalls
! swelled themselves into Cataracts, and
! loaned down the streams. The wind
rose up from its sleep, and forced great
| rolling waves across the coping Of the
+ reservoirs, and stones and grass became
commingled.
Now the sluice-Yalves were all opened,
and the long-imprisoned water gladly
dashed from out its prison to meet its
native river once again. The channel of
eA4C 44D4AAGoAAth4Gs O4GB A4OL6 AALou Will
water, divided on the hill. But still 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 the elemental war without.
At five o'clock In the morning, as the
gray light was struggling into life, Nc
Causland came, fully dressed, into my
room. started up.
Dress yourself as quickly as you can,
and come down stairs, he said. I began
to ask questions. "Lose no time,
there's a good fellow want your assist
ance." 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. The water was
plashing from the caves, and, mingling
with the heavy drops, burst into sepa-
rate stream In every rut and furrow.
Tho wind beat the tall trees and roared
amid the branches. Ever and anon a
sharp snap denoted bough torn from
us place and whirled to the soaking
earth.
I dressed quickly and joined McCaus-
land in the little parlor. He was study
ing a private copy Of the railroad time
tables, which as an official he always car
vied.
"Wm you take the horse and ride
down to Ammering junction with mes
sage?"
His collected manner assured ne. Was
this all g.? A ride through the rain was
not much. "Of course, I will CO."
He grasped my hand firmly. Are
you nervous?" he said, as he held it in
his own steady grasp.
Nonsense" I replied, laughing
"IIl be ready In five minutes, If it's I'M
portaDt. Is the horse here ? "
I ran up for my water-proOfs. When
I came down the horse was at the door,
and McCausland inspecting him,
I mounted. "Now, said for this
great message, If you please.
McCausland's tone had something very
solemn in it, as he replied:
"Tell the st8tiORsmasteT at Ammerlng
Junction, and any people you see, that
the South Reservoir viii not last three
hours. It will burst down the valley,
and will destroy the Apps Viaduct, and
carry away the bridges on the Holmes
dale branch. Stop the traffic, and save
the passengers. God bless you; and,
bark ye, ride for yOaJr life. L Will fire
the signal-cannon as a warning. Good
BY"