Connecticut western news., 1878-10-09
VOL. VII.

gloom and thunder by lantern-ngnt, ana Nature rested not that ivelong 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, MCausland came, fully dressed, into my room. started up.
 "Dress yourself as quickly as you can, and come down stairs" he said. began to ask questions. Close no time, there's good fellow I want your assistance. He left the room.
 I jumped up at once, hurried to the window, and looked out. Day was just 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. The wind beat the tall trees and roared amid the branches. Ever and anon g sharp snap denoted bough torn from its place and wbirhed to the soaking earth.
 dressed quickly. and joined M M'Caus- land in the little parlor. He was study. ing private copy of the railroad time, tables, which, as an offioi al, he always carried.
 "Will you take the horse and ride down to Ammering Junction with 8 mes- sage ?"
 His collected manner assured me. Was this all? A ride through the ram was not much. "Of course I will go ''
 He grasped my hand firmly. "Are you nervous?" he said, as he held it in his own steady grasp.
 "Nonsense,' I replied, laughing. "I'll be ready in five minutes, if it's important Is the horse here ?'
 I ran up for my water-proofs. When came down, the horse was at the door, and M Causland inspecting him.
 I mounted. "Now," I said, "fo1 this great message, if you please"
 MCausland's tone had something very solemn in it as he replied
 "Tell the station-master at Ammerine Junction, and any people you see, that the South Reservoir will 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, hark ye, ride for your life. will fire the signal cannon as warning. Good by."
 u.-A WILD RIDE.
 Mechanically I gathered up the reins, nodded to M'Causland, for I was toe stupefed to reply in words, and started upon my wild ride. Three hours hence and the water would be pouring dowr the valley through which my courselay No wonder I had to ride for my life, anc perhaps the lives of hundreds of my fel low creatures depended on mine. Am mering Junction was some miles away My route lay through an unknowncoun try, across moorland intersected by flood ed streams, and swept by the fierce wint and rain.
 Imust do it, thought, as my horse picked his cautious way amid the loos' stones down the steep by-road we ha( ascended the previous day. I shoule need all my strength, though, to execut' my task, so pressed on. A valuable slice of my time had been expended when reached the broad highway ant urged my horse to speed. had to turl off again, knew, but fancied shoul' easily find the path. Besides, was ther not a sign-post? Therefore, urged b, dreadful tidings, and with the ferc wind and biting rain by turns and all to gether assailing me, I urged my hors onward. 1 reached the turning, an, pulled up to see what direction Bhoul take. Inearly tainted with horror as
 read. The fatal finger pointed up tn cross-road was pursuing-"To Holmes dale and Seaham." The opposite inde } pointed-"To Ruddall and Ammering , I could scarce credit my senses. Surel I was right! We had come up the pre- l vious day, and mp the hill to the rese1 voirs. I had merely to reverse th ], route we had travelled. At that momen } if you will believe me, the true state ( 7 the case and my own stupidity hashe 5 upon me. We had come from Holme . dale was now bound for Ammeriny t which lay at the opposite side. r This was terrible mistake. It WI
 civ of 41o &l,rI l. precious hours had elapsed, and wi ], further away from Ammering than whe l. I started. I was seized with despai e what ever couldI do now? Twohours r
 mained, and had three uphill miles = ride, and then about seven more aero g the moor, before I could reach the jun
 tion, and before that the trains mig r have started, and then 7. Tburst out into cod precipitation o the thought, and then, desperate a
 only half conscious, I rode madly ba I to the Ammering road and up the h n again. But the storm fend was abros
 and had arrayed all his forces agai1
 me.
 e As we gained the more open groun
 the blast came down with such violer 'o as to stagger us. It tore across the h. I side, and whizzed and hissed among to gorse and swaying grass. The 1ain ca ed down more determinedly than ever. Id length reached small cluster of ste at cottages. and halted under the lee of
 last one to take breath for a frs of struggle over the moor, which lay Def e. me. A straight road lay over it. he good road, but crossed at intervals vn rapid streams which had overfov