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

Swim 2' said grandmamma, as we sat
round the cracking billets one evening. Every
boy and girl should learn 10 swim, why, | could
swim Ike a duck when was girl. Dear me, dear
metz
.Grandmamnla sat bolt upright In her high backed
chair, resting her elbows on the arms and smiling
at grandpapa-wh0 SAT- on the other SIDE oi the
hearth-with u conscious look In her bright old eyes
Grandpapa the general, pausnB In the act OF raising
his tunbler TO his hpa nodded aud smiled back at
gTandmamma. They were both white haired, bright
eyed and rosy checked both sat, straight and erect,
In tall, red cushioned oak chairs, and each saw the
other through an eGacing medium that smoothed out
wrinkles, restored hyacinthine locks, and blOted out
the fifty years that lay between them aud youth.
Now, when We the youthful descendants OF this
stately pair grouped In lazy attitudes around the vast
roaring hearth with Its tall carved chimney piece saw
the meaning looks that were exchanged between our
respected pIogenllorS We scented story Ana wheh
a many appeal for The story broke from MS,
graudmanma hestated for "A moment anu shook her
head, then looking across 10 granipapa, who nodded
again. and, after little pressing she thus began:
You know young people, that you OF good fam
lily only your grandfather Side, ana not on nine
Tor he came of an old aud honorable stock, while my
father Ony ship bus' My father was Killed
In great sea light when was ittle child; anu
was brought up by my grandfather, who was osten-
siDly boat-Ouilder aud fisherman, but In reality
smugger i successful smuggler' too IN those
days smuggling meant great risks and enormous
prohts, for duties, especially on i3feigh wines anu
profitable trade, but 1t was reputable In peculiar
sort OF way for 1t required great courage aud great
skill. England was always Al war in those days, and
the snuggler the fisk being snapped up by an
enemy cruiser as well as OF falling Into the clutches
OF a revenue cutter. In addition, there the IN
eyitable chances and dangers Of the sea. So that a
good sinuRgler had To oe not only man of great
daring, but OF great knowledge Of navigation. lie
had to work iuto the habor the darkest night for
1t ouly dark nights that he could venture on
"a run, ~ with the utmest secrecy and despatch.
To do that lie must know every inch OF his way, he
able to distinguish landmarks and buoys where an
unpracticed.eye would only see tndstihct backness;
and know to nicely the time the tide turned, the
twists Of the sand banks and the position OF the
sunEen rock.
My grandfather cOuld neither read nor write, and he
had as 1 think for that reason "A wonderful memory
lie assisted In his work by my two uncles, both
iiteGate men like himself, aud the three seemed To
find their way, through long practice and acute obser-
WALTON, as If by instinct. There was only one chan
mel leading TO the landing place, the mouth OF the
little river where We lived being almost choked by
necessary TO hit this channel considerable way out al
sea- and a small black buoy bobbed up and down 10
indicate Its commencement. one side OF the harboT
was formed by line of rocks 1utting out to some
length aud shelving down gradually into the water,
and the buoy was distant from the extremity OF these
rocks about three quarters Of mile. This hcadland
| was called the point.
| The black buoy, mere specE the waters, wa
hard enough for any one To find In the broad day vel
my grandfather never failed to ind 1t Ia the datk-o
of course II was only moones5 night that he could
hope 10 cargo. The usual course OF proceedings
was tins: The ngger arrived on our coast at night
fall lay to until signal was flashed from our friends
Shore and then found the entrance TO the channel
and worked In with the tide lie was necessary 10 bC
very careful In hitting oil the channel at FIRST where
the buoy was, or they might ultimately run on th'
| sunken rocks al the extremity of the point.
! Graudfather and lived In pretty cottage at onj
extremity of the village. our house better than
most of the others, for grandfather had money In th
bank, and was We'll 10 do. The cottage was covered
! with honeysuckles and creeper8; at the back was
ll-stOcked kitchen garden; III front was grass
bank sioping down 10 the sand AT its junction witt
! which stood our wooden Dat-hOuse. ny the boat
house lay three four OF boats broad, strong
unwicdy and opposite the boat house were the
lngs of the Little Lady, our naughty fast-sailing
| clever little ngger
had q very Independent, irregular sort of life
My grandfather often away for days At time
the old woman who looked after the hose-for grand
! mother was dead long since-wonld have had It'll
time for securing and cleaning II she had tried To loo
after mo. ! got little book learning from the oil
vicar, but IL was not enough TO hurt me. no, m
deaTs; l knew no Italian, no Latin, no algebra; bi
my eyes were the less bright. my lungs tn
less clear, my color none the less blooming, that
passed most OF my days In the bright sunshine, an
Tree, fresh air. could run couple OF miles and jun
gate; could pun an oar with the best, and conl
swim Ike duck, ! was thoroughly AZ home eithe
on the water or In IL. The sea had no terrOrs or aim
culties for me- except such rs IL was pleasure I
cOlored, free mbel, bright eyed young maid who's
only trouble was her long resses OF thick brown halI
and who bothered her head very nile with the oiht
sex.
Notthat but had my admirers. Eat they Wei
limited In quantity and coarse In quality. mea
rough; manly enough but lacking III the rehnelneI
which Young gin In any rank of life always long
for, and with sometimes sad results. ANY now II
bold young fisherman who made sbeepsl oVertures
my formidable self excited nothing ON my part bl
polite amusement, aud 1 was quite heart whole.
was very happy, had wonderful appetite, and soun
la wind and limb, and perhaps, young people, 20
have TO thank tue rough freedom OF my early life Il
the excellent constitutions which you now enjoy.
ON a certain day In September when was near
seventeen years OF aye, my grandfather being abse
0nOne OF his expeditions aud expected BACK NJ nigh
sci oil for one Of the long lambles IN the COUNT
which was la the habit Of taking when lac WI
away. AS was not allowed To 90 oil In this fafhiC
when grandfather was at home | made big day
It, starting Immediately after breakfast and, takif
some bread and meat With me for dinner, ramDi
much further than intended, lost my way more tia
once, aud the night was loming apaca when &
turned Tired aud footsoTe, l was taking short c
tract, made by the sheep, when amidst my dream
antcipatlOns Of supper and bed came the recOllect
of little serge bathing SUIT, which had meant
fetch Ia the morning la order 10 repair u, The III
cave where / kept IL was among the rocks Of 4
. point, and from where | was, being already on 1
4 seward side OF tue village II was not far dslar
n 30 stepped out brisEy aud soon came Ia this ILL
gully or Taylue IN The rocks which led TO my cav
and up which, In the course ui The night Out smu
u gled treasures would be slealthily conveyed. Cal
used 10 stand At the upper end Of 1t 10 take the
away
snpped into my cave, felt for my dresa and foul
H. aud too lazy Just then TO face the ascent up
@ gully again, stood gazing out TO sea aud wonderl
/ where my grandfather was az that moment Then
turned homewaTd ! had got about third OF I
3 gully which was very dark, when heard a stran
= sound. l stopped 10 listen. 10 was not the seTea
Of sea-brd, nor the moaning Cf the sea. II car
y down the gully aud drew nearer bear, beat, with
h little, very distinct, llngllng sound; Il was I
- had never seen any, hut guessed what they weT
y In moment had scrambled cautiously up the roc
n and hidden behind a ledge. l cronChed perfect
stlll, with every sense on the alert, Suddenly I
measured tramp ceased, and presently Two IN
r came slowly down the gully. talking in low voice
70 They wore long clOals, and their weapons Jingle
as they walled. They passed me and stood az I
y lower end OF the gully. The air was still, and
70 could hear every word they said.
3 ''This Is the place, slr, - said Tie bigger a
, stOuter OF the two. ''Ihe goods are landed liz
. to tho LETT Of here carried up the gully aud reeeiy
a at tho top by tue carts. The carts stand where
VI came down.
Tho other who by the ease OF his bearing aud
! Difference Of the big man. took 10 be an o1leer, h
q paper In his hand. lie looked around hun, g,
ol dOntlY taking Ia the features OF the place,
''There won't DO any carts Tonight, sergeant
:, he said In q pleasant voice. 1.-THE people in
"a village know we are here aud viii be yure 90 wa
!" them hope they won Z manage TO warn the m
- We want. 80
mot they, sir, - answered the sergeant. "
boat leave the harbor without Its being stopI