Litchfield enquirer., 1880-06-17

Then we might miss Jerry. lie glveS tne orders. We must do as he says"
 1 went up to the loft where my bed was, but with no idea of going to sleep. did moi undress. l threw myself down on the bed, and that was all knew until l was awakened by Miss Nancy about midnight. The grand mother was dead she said, and in her coffin. Father OLeary would not cross the lake in the night for any money. She would have to stay at home, and must make the trip alone.
 I msved about as in a horrible dream, talking to myself in my thoughts, and then only saying something like: ''Stick to it, Peggy. Don't give up. You are almost through. Nothing will hurt you; and by to- morrow-only to-Inerrow-you will be very rich girl, Peggy; we'll paid for this nights work. Keep up, Peggy, keep up."
 That was very heavy coffin Ms; Nancy and I carried down the bank in the black night, considering the size of it and the weight of most old women. But sad nothing-only te Peggy Herrick Tbe boat sank almost to the waters level when got in. A black boat, a.black cloth over the coffin, and Miss Nancy had given me thick coat of black shag. The lake was smooth, but the clouds hid the stars, and there was no moon. l was to steer for Buffalo. 1 knew the way, and it was no new thing for me to be out on the wa ter in the dark. My orders were to steer for Buffaie light until was afialf-mile or more from port Then was to put in to light that I would see in high building to the north about a half miie-between a poplar tree and church steeple. The light would be in the third story, and Jerry or somebody else at the dock. My oars were muffied-l knew that at the first stroke-and silent as death my boat pushed out. Buffalo light gleaming faintly over the black waters.
 "Now, Peggy, cut for home, l said aloud, when I was well ont from the point, and looking over my shoulder for the necessary bearings I knew every tree-t0p dimly out lined in the distance against the sky. In two hours at most would be at home, for tn c current would help me. Should they follow we would have race with our oars, that was all But hsw could they see my course in that darkness7 The clouds were breaking but It would take better eyes than mine even to see such a black shape as my boat and its cargo pushing through the dark.
 was perhaps mile from home. A strange joy had given place to my fears. 1 was think ing how surprised father would be, and how many dollars the poor old grandmother would be worth, when my right oar creaked horribly under my excited pull. Another stroke, and it broke at the oarlock Good heavens! and l was not dreaming It was not all nightmare l! Nv oar was broken had no other My boat was gliding into the main current of the river, the Niagara River, and the falls not fifteen miles below!
 What did do? What could do but sit frozen in terror. helpless and numb? On, on. on I WAS steadily floating. The night shutting use in; nobody to hear, nobody to help; the distance between me and the bank of Grand Island growing wider and wider; that black. cruel current the very gulf of death. Mo- did not pray, unless the wild shrll cry gave when l saw the roof of our house against the sky was a prayer had thrown off my wrap pings to make the desperate plunge that would only bring death the sooner, and save me from that hurrying dash through the rapids ahead, when l gave loud despairing cry-a shriek so terrible could not have repeated it but for the quick answer it brought. Old POnt answered mel
 Out from the darkness and across the dread full river came his loud woltlike bay-a far cry for help. Yesr it was more than that-It promised to save me; it told me to be brave.
 l answsrel him; called him by name. Louder and louder did he bark and howl as he threw himself against the door and tore at it with his paws. If the door of heaven ever opens 10 me ihe light will be like what saw when fathers candle flickered over old Fonts head He caught my cry; my boat had pas sed the house, and waiting for nothing he ran down the bank could hear the clanking of the anchor chain, and Pont struggling to get into the boat
 Row for the shore. Peggy!" Father was al last fairly awake, as he said afterward. ''FOr Gods sake, why don't you row"
 Never a word he spoke when shouted why l did not He said he tried to speak-tried to say, Don't be afraid, Peggy. can save you" but it was like shouting in a night mare. He knew Pont was swimming after him, and he drove him back with his oar, wondering after he did so how he dared take the seoInd's time. Then he says he rcmem- bcFs nothing more distinctly until we were nearly ashere, my boat in tow of his, and in a dead faint upOn my cargo.
 Peggy Peggy ," he was calling when came tO on the beach; and Pont could not be made tO understand by blows why 1 was not tO Ne torn and tossed and kissed and parked over. Peggy What tempted you to go body liftin'? What graveyard did ye take il from :''
 That made me laugh, if you can believe it, even then. in spite of everything. 1 kissed father and tine dear old dog, and pulled at the grass as l sat theie on the bank to make sure l was on dry ground again. Father was dreadfuily bewildered. and kept talking about having forgotten to feed Pont and to call him ia tl.ai night, just as if that was anything to t'e sorry for; for if the dog had been comfort: able in his bed. and not shivcring, hungry out of t.Oprs, he would never have heard my cry, and the - 1 snppuse G.'d sends suffering tO Us all sometimes to make us help somebody else
 But, fathcr," said l, when my chattering teeth and Pont would let me speak, ''you must break into ParSon Dotr's barn as soon as ever you can and take his best horse and ride over to Captain BedelIs for me No, no, get the horse and I'Il go myself"
 Are you crazy, Peggy? Is it body liftin' and horse stealin' both at once ?"
 Its smuggled brandy, father-that's what's in that cOffin-eneugh to make our fortune Don't wait for talk now be quick as you ever was m your life. I'll hide the boat in tue flags while you get the horse. They may bc after me the smugglers you know"
 was gallOping across the island at break. neck pace in no time. for the captain lived on the eastern shore. Father had taken no notice Uf my costume. but Captain Bedell did at once, or rather he was slow to discover Peggy Herrick in the rough-lsoking man rapping with whip p-handle on his bedroom window just before daybreak.
 The captain didn't need many directions when he was en the raid for snluggled brandy. He sent Vim Smith back with me to guard the bonty-each of us carried a revolver he started for the poplar tree and the church steeple- Before night he had the whole gang in Buffalo Jail-Nlss Nancy, Father O'Leary, the departed grandmother and Jerry Clark, for as soon as had pushed off with the coffin the three started out to follow at a safe dis tance with 6 cask of brandy in their boat, and the captain, who had Jerry before their arri- val. had little trouble in catching them.
 The captain was good friend of mine, and he saw tIat had net snly the handsome re- ward, but perhaps more praise than deserved He interested himself in selling our place and in getting me into good boarding school in Batavia Colonel Allen, who owns nearlyyali the island, gave father good situation on his dairy farm, and a member of the Falconwsoa Club presented Pont with a silver-plated col lar. with Latin on it, which was all we'll enough, for Pont can read Latin just as we'll as he can English, and think he would rather not have everybody know what he has done in the world.