Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1878-12-28
A Race for Life.
THE MESSAGE.

THE MESSAGE.
my dear fellow, am delighted to see
you" exclaimed my friend M'Causland,
as he met me at the door of his house.
had gone on visit to Holmesdale.
little town on the north of England.
M'Causland was engineer to the water
company there, and had invited me to
60 down for week.
After the usual interval for dressing
We sat down to an excellent little din
ner. Not unraturally the conversation
turned upon the weather.
II am sorry this rain continues, :"
said M'Causland; lit spoils my water
supply. People bully me as if I could
help it,"
''Are your reservoirs near town ?"
asked.
NO." he replied, away in the hills.
We can 60 over tomorrow if you like.
I'm due there"
The excursion was arranged. We
agreed to start at eleven o'clock next
morning, and We started punctually.
We pursued our way up the hill, and
crossing the Brow, reached small inn.
Here We found country gig awaiting
rs. Into this we clambered, and pro.
ceeded along wooded by-road, stony
and rutful. At length, when hope had
almost given way to bad language, we
pulled up at another small inn, called
the Reservoir" We got out of the
gig gladly.
An engineer foreman hurried up and
accosted us politely.
"Ts all RIGHT Johnson 90 ;nou;rol
M'Causland.
eyes,, all is right; but"
"Well, but what?"
81 don't quite like the South Reser-
voir embankment," was the reply.
M'Causland 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 extern
sive embankment which confined the
waters of the largest of the three reser-
voirs of Holmesdale Company. A
fresh breeze was blowing the waters in
small though noisy waves against the
paved top of the bank. Here and there
tongue of liquid spat upon the stone
work, and at one spot it trickled down
into and apparently came through the
grass.
"This is the spot was looking at this
morning." said johnson.
"You had better have few men to
puddle this up" said MCausland, indi.
eating tiny crack that would have es.
capped less experienced eyes.
We then continued our inspection,
but during our progress round the
works the clouds had massed them.
selves in wild grandeur above the hills
and lay heavy above the App Valley in
front. The railroad crossed tho VALLEY
on graceful viaduct near Ammerino
Junction. The dark s,aty clouds hune
suspended over this district. Long
tendrils of the scud came forth from
them like fingers. These clutched now
rock. then q solitary tree, now swep,
up again and brought down q large,
mass of cloud to place upon the ground
ever stealing onward and downward
leaving all in its stealthy track danl
and foggy. A low moaning sound wa.
in the air. 1t was not the wind, for the
breeze had strangely lulled. The tree.
scarce moved, yet the water rolled NJ
against the reservoir banks as if agi
tated by an unseen wheel. We al
seemed conscious of the disturbance o.
the atmospheric conditions, and IT,.
leaves whispered strange condolences t
the motionless boughs above on,
heads.
The men had all gone up to the reser
voirs: M'Causland and 1 sat chattin,
together.
do you think you could find You
way back alone ?" he asked suddenly
Why y I said. "Do you intend t.
remain here ? Is there any danger?"
We'll, scarcely that; but think
ought 10 be on the spot. / will return
tomorrow or next day."
Can not stay too?''
Certainly. if you desire il. W,
rough it mp here though"
II do not mind that" I replied. 4.
It Wa settled. Fortunate it was that ]
did remain. As We sere preparing 4
vlsit the siuices again. We were startlet
by vivid fash Of lightning, which haf
hardly lasaed when the rock
rang ont With a thousand thunde,
echoes.
This vas the signal. The window,
OF heaven opened, and perfect del
uge descended upon the devoted valley
The little brooks leaped up and dancet
down ths hill-sides in white array. Tin,