Middletown transcript., 1883-04-20
nal. You undertake that, don't

The Sergeant produced something,
: probably lantern, from under his
cloak. "Here is the signal, sir"
"Then we're right. Now post the
men,"
The Sergeant saluted and clanked up
the gully, while the officer walked
slowly toward the water and stood at
the edge-some distance from me, for
the tide was getting low-with hishead
bowed and his hands clasping the paper
behind his back. l ventured to breathe
freely again, and began to review the
situation. What did it all mean 1t
meant that the authorities had got wind
of my grandfather's doings, and had
sent out this detachment of soldiers to
take him in the act. 1t must be grand
father, because there was no one else in
the village likely to be aimed at. And
if they caught him, what then? What
was this form of words that kept ring
ing in my ears over and over again
" Transportation for life ~ What was
that 1t was no uncommon punish
ment, l had heard, for a smuggler
taken, as my grandfather was likely to
be, red-handed. For moment the
hope flashed into my head that he
might not come that night. But no!
The wind was light, and not unfavor-
able; there was no suggestion of a for
tunate storm in the sky, and l knew
that our friends with the wagons had
arranged to come and that all was in
readiness. My heart sank within me
as l thought of my old grandfather's
gray hairs dishonored in the felon's
dock-for I had once seen a man tried
and his kind old face bidding me
farewell forever. 1 bowed my head on
my hands and longed to cry.
Suddenly l raised my head, and my
heart beat with loud resolve. would
save him. Yes The skill that I
had attained for my own needless plea
sures should be put to stern service.
My resolve was this When the lug
ger showed her signal in answer to that
treacherous one from shore, I would
swim out to the buoy, and keep myself
afioat at the entrance of the channel
until I could hail our people and warn
them of their danger.
never hesitated after 1 had formed
this resolution. I forgot that 1 was
tired andhungry, put aside the thought |
Of cold and exhaustion in the water, /
and began at once to make my prepara-
tions. On the narrow ledge of rocks
where 1 now knelt, 1 undressed and
put on my little bathing dress, which
consisted only of tunic and drawers.
My own clothes made into a bundle
and slowed away behind a stone.-
Then, like cat, 1 clambered up the
rocks, hiding behind every projection
and keeping fearful watch upon the
sentinel at the head of the lgully.
Fortunately the gully was not very
deep. When got to the top I crept
on my hands and feet until I judged I
was well out of sight, and started for
the end of the Point. took my time,
for there was no hurry, and 1 had to
husband my strength; and at last 1
reached the rock from which 1 meant
to start. There I sat down to wait.
I did not know the time, and could
only guess it by calculating from the .
sunset. How long should 1 have to !
wait ? Heaven knows; but it seemed j..
an age. l got sleepy from my days ex-
ertion. The night air was cold, too,
and my clothing, however well adapted :
for exercise, was somewhat scanty for :
sitting in. Besides, it was damp. The
of that long watch comes {
over me now. Oh would the slow
minutes never pass +?
Thicker and thicker grew the gather
ing darkness. The waters and the
heavens were blended in obscurity, and j.,
there, at the end of the rocks, sat :
patiently, poor little figure shivering )
in the gloom, listening to the lap of the :
waves as they beat upon the rocks, and
peering out to see with my heart in my
eyes. | waited so long that believed /.
l must have fallen asleep and missed
the signal, and at that thought was :
burying my face in my hands to give :
way to despair, when something stopped
me-a fash ! far out upon the dark sea !.
there it was 1 sprang to my feet,
every nerve tingling. The moment for =
action had arrived.
paused for a moment to picture to :
myself the bearings of the buoy. I :
knew exactly how it lay from the point,
for had swan round it often enough. :,
But not in the dark, Not with the :
water vast black plain mingling with
the black sky not with fear of sinking :,
to those mysterious depths, unseen un- =
heard, unhelped. ButI never hesitated. =
Into the cold flood plunged and struck b
out boldly in the direction 1 had deter :
mined upon. After a few vigorous :,
strokes the sense of active exercise, ex- 4
ultation in physical power and use of -
skill overcame my misgivings. But
they came on again when 1 looked Q
around upon that murky waste of water.
Could I be sure was going in the Il
right direction Might I not swim O
and swim and never find that for which
[ was in search, lose myself and become q
exhausted-to sink beneath the silent n
sky alone Ii
But on 1 went, struggling hard to n
keep my wits about me in spite Of the
horrors that would rush over my brain =,
again and again. 1t was hard physical. 81
work, too, for the tide was coming in h
there were breakers in the shadows, G
and in the channel the stream was fast
and strong. 1t was impossible to see f,