The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-01-26
THE BLACK B JOY
AErttt

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 :. swim sad ;ay grand maheu 4s we slt around the I..ek-n- log eue rauS:nlas eve. Ever, ,aa sifl ,aoula learn ta s@isa eould suin ike duck vixen 1 was d sri. and there rane a tune when Il served me n good s,ead
 Ny grandmother sai bolt upright n ne, gh-oaeked chair, resting her elbow : or the arms, and smiled aetoss at. the general, who sat on the other side of the hearth. There was conscious look ln her bright old eyes. My grandfather. causing Tn the act of raising his tumbler 10 his lips. nodded and smiled baok k asain They were both whi;e-haired, brieh,-eyed and fresh-colored each Saw the other through an effaoing medium. which smoothed out wrinkles. restored hyaeinthine locks and plotted out the fifty years that lay between them and youth.
 We, the diverse-aged descendants oi this stately pair, were grouped IT lazy ai- iitudes around the vast ioaUng hearth. with its tall, cArsed chimBey-pieee. and as xe saw the meaning looks that were exchanged between our respected pie- genftors. We scented story.
 My grandmother hes,ttfed fer a mo meat al our many -voieeo appeal. tRd shook her head then locked cross at the general, who nodded aeaIn and aile, a l;tile pressing thus Uegsa:
 You know. young people, that yoa are ot good family only on your gran l. fathers side and not on mine. for h. came of an old and honorable stas k ~hile my father was orly the master ot yes SCI that traded between England and the West Indies, He was killed m a sea hght when 1 was child and l WAS brought up by my grandfather. who, osiensibly boat-bu!der and fisherman, was in reality a smuggler. In those days smuggling meant. grea. risks and enor- nous profits. |, was not only ! proiIta- ble trade, but II was reputable Tn pecu- liar sort of way IL required great skill, and courage. England was always al war in those days and the smuggler had to Fun the risk of being snapped ID by an enomys cruiser as well aS the chance ni falling into the clutches of I revenue cut ter. In addition there were the inevitable Tisks of the sea.
 Thus Il snug gier must posses :, snosledge of navisatten. He had ,o work into harbor on inc iar<es, nigius xith the utmost secrecy and despatch To do that he must know every inch at his way be able 10 distinguish .andm e- and buoys in what would seem to the ui5- Hated To be blank darkness, and to kuess 10 niCety at what tunes the tide turned the twists oi sand-banks and the position of sunken rocks.
 There was only one channel lcadln. into the haroor. for the mouth of eur ll- tie nver vas chekea w.;h sand. and the banks extended out % sea. ], ~As nct e>- sary to hit this channel some distance u Ai sea. and a small black buoy bobbed up and down 10 indicate iis commence men, One side of the harbor was formed by inc of rocks shelving dow T gradually into the water. and the buoy sas distant from the extremity oi these ioeks about three quarters of d mile. or a lite more. This headiand was called the Point.
 The black buoy, mere specs on Inc waters, was hard enough for any one 70 md Tn the broad day, but my grand iaiher never failed to ind It in the dark 'or, Of course. 1t was only on a mooniess nigh, that the smuggiers dared to run a cargo. The usual course of proceeding vas this: The lugger arrived off our coast at nigh,fall. lay to until signal sas flashed from our friends on shore. zashed reply, found ,he entrance to the channel, and worked in with the tide.
 had very independent kind of i'e getting good deal of book learning from ne old vicar and passing many hours ID the bright sunshine and the fresh air eouid run couple of miles. and pull an oar, and swim with the best. The sea had no ,errors or difficulties for me ex- cept such as il was a pleasure to over come. So a, sixteen ! was a fresh eniored. free-limbed, and. believe. snght-eyed young maiden, whose only trouble was her long tresses of thick brown hair, and who thought very little ef the outside world.
 On certain day in September, my fand-father being absent and expected aacs at night, set of for long ramble a the country, taking some sandwiches aA me for dinner. At nightfall was dnFning tired and hungry, when .ased on the cliffs for moment to take 1st look around before striking into = path that led 10 the village. With a u of contented fatigue turned home ad when 1 recollected that little sui, elne serge, which used for bathing. eqsired some tnfiing repairs. kept 1t
 hffle cave no, far from the gully up Asch our contraband goods used to be 4veyed; SO withou, approaching the laage | hastened to the cave by the sogsest route. passed down the gully, spped into the cave. and felt about for Y dress. Having found t. l WAS just eout to come out again. when a strange s1nd broke the stiffness oi he night, nd ssonped shar. Auaarer.ly cerninv