The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1883-03-18

ton became inaudible for moment. 80 mas ut
the top OF the gully, sir aud the others ON the sea
ward side VI the village. Non aud J, SIT, to manage
the signals down here. aud then ! stop mp to the
man At the top Of the gully one calls In another and
We are al down here ready to receive them. '
'By All meauS ~ said the oniceti and YOU
know the place and DON'T YOU had better post the
men nv the way, - ho added scanning the paper
W. his hand aud holding It close to his eyes, Sc ~
i2iaO think u Is tho signal. Won understand that
Inc sergeant produced something, probably
lantern, from under his CLOAK. ''ilero VS. the
signal sr.'
The sergeant saluted aud clanked up tile gully,
while the olcer walked slowly toward the water and
stood at the edge.-some distance from me- Tor the
tide was getting low-wlth his head bowed aud his
hands clasplng the paper behind his backi ventUrod
TO breathe freely again. and began to review the situa
thorltlcs had got wind Of my gtandfather's dongs,
aud had sent This detachment ot soldiers to take him
| u the act. II must he grandfather because there
was no one else In the village likely to he aimed at
] Aud " they caught him, what them What was THIS
form ut words that Kept ringing Ia my ears over aud
over agalnY transportation for lltc.' What was
thott ~ was no uncommon punishment, | had
heard, for smnggler taken, as my graduation was,
d-haudcd. For moment the hope flashed into my
head that lac might not come that night But 10;
the wind was light, and not uniavorabc; there was
no suggestion OF q fortunate storm IN the sky aud
knew that Our fIleuds with the wagon had arranged
/ To- come aud that all was IN readiness. My heart
sank within me as thought OF my old giandiathcr's
gray hairs dshonored In the felOn's dock--for had
once seen man tred-and his Kind old face bidding
me farewell forever. ! bowed my head on my hands
/ aud longed to cry.
suddenly raised my head, and my heart beat with
q loud resolve, I would save him. Yes The
SKIN that had attained for my own needless pleasure
should he put to stern service. My resolve was this.
When the ugger showed her signal In answer to that
treaCheTous one from shore, would swim out to the
buoy, ana keep myself aoat at the entrance OF the
channel until could hail our people and warn them
OF their danger.
never hesatcd after had formed this resolution.
] forgot that was tired and hungry put aside the
thought OF cold and exhaustion the water aud began
at once to make my preparations. ON the narrow
ledge VI rocks where now kne undressed and put
on my little bathing dress, which consisted only OF
tunic and drawers, My own clothes made Into
bundle aud slowed away behind n stone. Then like
cat clainbered up the rocks, hiding behind every
projection and keeping fearful watch upon the sent
mel at tile head Of the gully Fortunately, the gully
was not very deep. When got TO the top clept ON
my hands aud feet until Judged was well out Of
sight and started Tor the end OF the point. took
my time. tor there was no hurry, aud had to hus-
band my strength, aud at last reached the rock from
which meant to start. There sat down to walt.
did not know the time, and could only guess II by
calculating from sunset. How long should have to
wait? Heaven knows, but II seemed an aye. got
sleepy from my days eyertion The night air was
cold, too and my clothing, however well adapted FOR
exercise was somewhat scanty for sitting In. be-
sides, 1t was damp. The Indebtedness OF that long
watch COMES to me now. Oh! would the slow min
uies never pass
Thicker and thicker grew the gathering darkness.
The water and the heavens blended In oDscurlty,
aud there, AZ the end OF the rocks sat patiently u
poor little hgnre shiveIng In the gloom, listening To
the lay Of the waves they beat upon the rocks aud
pcerng out to sea with my heart In my eyes. waited
so long that believe must have fallen asleep and
missed the signal and at that thought was buryiug
my face In my hands to give way to despair. when
something stopped me-a flash far out upon the dark
sea--theIe 1t was sprang 10 my feet, every nerve
tinRling. Tho moment for action had arrived.
raused for a moment to picture to myself the
bearings OF the buoy. | knew exactly how 1t lay
nom the point, for had swan round 1t often enough
Bat not N the dark. Not WIN ewater vast black
plain mingled with the black sky; not with the fear
OF anking To those mysterious depths, unseen, un-
heard, uuhelped. nut never hestated. Into the
cold floods plunged aud struck out boldly In the d.
reetioh had determined upon, After few vigor-
strokes the sense Of active exercise exultation In
physical power, aud use OF SKIN overcome my msgiy-
iDgs. But theN came On again when looked around
upon that muiey waste OF water. Could DO sure
was going in the right direction Might not swim
and swim and never tind that for which | was in
search, lose myse aud become eyhausted-tO sink be-
meath that silent sky aloney
Bat on went, struggling hard to keep my wits
about in spite OF the horrors that would rush over
my brain again and again. 1t was physical work,
In the shadows, and In the channel the stream was
fast aud strong. 1t was impossible to more than
few yards ahead, level as | was with the water.
with the tide running SO hard against me 1t dim
cult To see how far ont had succeeded In getting.
once all hut gave up got out of the channel into
wlered me sn that fell In sort Of panic. threw
myself on my back, and In tho very act-thanks TO
my ptacticed eSesight that could more or less see In
the dark caught sight of the buoy, There 1t was
bobbing NJ and down, looking 10 me like thing Of
life. swain TO 1t and kept close by. 1t like a
friend In all this desolaon of heaying But
came the worst waich OF the whole. The lugger must
Inevitably pass within hall Of me, but what II my
strength was ebhing FAST had been without food
since noon. had walked many miles. swimming
is an eNactlhg, eSertlng exercise, and | had st To
exert myself resOutely, with the tide running fast
to maintain my present position. My limbs moved
mechanically, head was dun and heavy, and there
was sort OF tinging in my ears. knew was going
, fast.
A little CLEAN Of parting waters, black mass loom
ing blarker than the darkness. and I summoned all
my energies for a shout. Little Lady, ahoylh
voice came from the darkness al Little Lady II
is. Who are you ~
quarter.n
The mRger was not three yards distant. I made
my last effort and swan 10 her. rope was thrown;
iheN hauled me on board, and had Just time 10 give
my warning before fell faIntlng ON the deck.
When came to the last keg of our cargo was being
lowered into tile sea. We were some little distance
up the coast aud floats were attached 10 the kegs
that we might lie able TO lind them again. SO eXpe-
dtnnsly was AL this done that 1t was only two
hours aterward when we beat cautiously up the
channel and cast anchor opposite the mouth Of the
gully. We pulled ashore in our boat As she grounded
aud we leaped out dark figures started up around,
lights flashed upon MS, and we were surrounded by
soldiers
'In the kings name ~ said the young oncer, ad-
vancng with his sword drawn and his cloak thrown
back to show his scarlet uniform.
II was n picturesque group, illuminated by The
ickering light Of the soldiers torches. My tall old
grandsre with his weather beaten gray hair;
the bOysb handsome oihcer, bright with scarlet and
steel the stolid seann In elr erseysand westers
the soldiers, with their bronzed faces aud gliteIng
der shelter of my salwart grandslre, disguised,
was, In suit Of oiskin and big SOU westeT that
almost covered my rebellions hair
My grandfather said nothing when the Young lien
tenant ordered the sergeant to board the ugger and
only quiet twinkle In lis Keen gray eye showed hi,
enjoyment of the scene. lie stood looking up into
The sky while the lieutenant kept his eyes fixed
me ground and loyed with his sword belt. The sol
diels had 10 row, and cinmsily enough they did 1t,
provoking one of the seamen 10 loud gHfaw, which
b was instantly suppressed.
The sergeant back again pretty soon; his red
= face was purple with wrath ''We've been mad,
fools Of sir he exclaimed, sainting the lieutenant
Q ''Nothing on board.
The lieuenant's face fell for instant: then h,
looked at the sergeant wrathful COuntenance and hi
I his liz 10 Keep from smiling
o The sergeant was at white heat 4" With you
permission, sir, III search these fellows - said he.
II You like, " answered the lieutenant carelessly
The search was soon accomplished, and they fOunt
9 nothing that they wanted. kept behind my grand
fathers back, hoping 10 escape observation. But TIN
sergeant caught me by the wrist. My grandiathe
S inernosed
It "Ihere Is nothing contraband on that boy" sal,
I he, peremptOrily,
Il Gwen soon see that answered the soldier
S grasping my wrist until could have screamed viii
pain.
My grandfather did not strike him. but ad minste
Kind OF push with his heavy shoulder that sent tn
e sergeant, big as he was, staggering yard or two
With the oosing of his hold Slipped aud almost fell
g oil went my -wester, and down. alas streame(
my long brown hair ali over me- The young ONCE
q stepped between the sergeant and me
n 90 don't think We need search this yOUngster, =
IL lie said in tone OF quiet authority. - lie u no
likely t" have anything contraband about him, Wher
y grandfather, while got into the background con
scious that the young sentenan's eyes had found m
: out.
d ,'Lobser ashing,' answered my grandfather
: unbnshngly.
= mol much sport, m AFRAID, - said the lien
tenant, looking abstractedly over my grandfather
;. shoulder.
d " Not great deal" answered my grandfather
l. - But we've taken as much you, SIR PerhaI
lie yon would like 10 come with some time and W
* might do better. -
ID "Perhaps Will, answered the officer, st glanc
" Ing over the others shoulder, Meanwhile, | Al
At sorry 10 have caused yon yours any annoyance
10 Good night to you. Fan In, men, -
And away they went. Hut my grandfather gaS
Id up the trade soon after that and sold the lugger
p drandmamma paused and looked at grandpa!
III With smile.
en- - Aud did you the lieutenant again afti
J. tha2' inquired bright girl Of fourteen. with long
to brown hair probably like what grandmamma's on,
h. was
Sc any dear, - said grandpapa, al was the ler
+, tenant. -
Ibe value or Our Forests.
m superintendent Colvin, Of New York, /
mt his report on the Adirondack survey, says;
rs ''That the precipitation Of rain Is greatly ina'
le enced by the presence or absence Of forests Is
to longer questioned among scientific men. IL
ut nowhere claimed that the total amount VI the annu
.I.NI Ia