The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-01-26

tie thin sound. but curiousiy disnnct-the elink of eel.
 Il peered out cautiously. Two men emerged from the gully. They had long eioaks on. but. by the clank oitheu arms and the manner of their bearing, 1 knew them 10 De soldiers. They were talking in lea voices bu; could hear what they said ior the night wsS very still.
 "' This IS the place, sir said one. who seemed to be the elder. The goods are landed here, and carried up this gully The carts stand al the head of the gully. where we came down"
 The other. the careless ease of whose bearing. coupled with the deferen,ial manner of his companion. showed him to be an officer, had a paper in his hand. He looked around him. Up and down the li,tle ravine. evidently taking in the feat ures of the place.
 "'Nery well. sad he. speaking in full. low tone that l well remember. | shall post hait the men here. and place the rest al intervals between this and the village 10 stop any one who attempts To r2ss. \; S:Is the tide turns AitWelve the signal. You understand the slsrAl. don't you
 !" The sergeant produced lantern from pn,!er Ais cloak
 "' Here is the $ -4. .i ss,
 ." Then ordel the len doAn. ans. place the others ..s taa n Hk best
 he ser Se4al ..e aaz .aa<ed an tae .'l.e n.;5as- s... se3 s...,iy ja- Ns9es sle sltef. tGd s,eoG there :. tse esige >enc a,s' tnCe from me. fae thc t...c W.~ isa st'h he4a bowed and h's taH1, beh3rd hls back. NeW or never toT me 10 set a@Ay. tlaisk a> thou h, ] slipped out ot my hldlus pil 2 and has;ened ap the gully. Horror a, the head oi u was 4 string ot dark ngures winding methodlcally down, their heads every now and then bobbins up and down aga,nst the twilight sky. The rocks were steep bu, not high. and was half way up them m an instant. Behind sheltering ledge crouched. scarcely daring to breathe, while they marched, tramp. tramS. silently down the ravlne.
 !" They passed out of sight heard an order gwen in sharp. clear tone. the rattle of arms. and all was stiil. Then brea.hed asaln. looked to ,he head oi the gully. and there. aihwart the sky ap- ti .N tinel was posted there
 Up to this momea. had ouly h. ugh, oi ese eapins ana arousing some al our trends n ;he village |, vaeli he hard IT We eoIld nat dc.4,c soulc m-aH ot wun4as ;he lasger q her danger Now that hope WAS gone. for my return to the village w,s GU, oil s;ill every one mus keo~ what vas -utHg on. and would mol some one slip out d boa; How could they The tide was lo~: the only chan nei even tor a small boat Was close to the lower end of the gully. and the saidlers eould prevent any one passing out.
 '' covered my face with my h hinds and ousied my self to th5nk There could be no reasonable donbt why the soldiers had been brought, twenty miles al least. to our ht,le village. l'enal seryi,ude for life !, What did that mean: |, was no uncom- mon punishment. had heard. for Il smuggeI takefi, IS my grand-iathes would surely be. red-hauded. For t moment the hope flashed into my head tha; he might no, come tonight. But no. The wind was light and not unfavorable. there was no suggestion of fortunate storm in the sky, and 1 knew that the people with carts had arranged ,o come and that ali was m readiness. My hean sank within me.
 Suddenly raised my head and formed a bold resolve. l would save hm Yes. The skill winch had attained io, my o"n needless pleasure should be pnt L. stern setttee. determined ,hat Ahen the lgeEer showed her sgr 4l II an sweI = ;ha, re. be1ous one iron, the ,hpie would >Vlm oui lo the buey and keef res eft afip4i Il tto ef.ranee of the channel until cnulc hal our people and wan lhen ot their danger
 ." never ht-l:a'ed after had formed this fesol ol.iiun fer 20, that w.ss hun gry ai,d tTed. an began instantly 10 make my ptep1FaHoc>. 0'n ;he narrow ledge oi tocs "htfe uu~ kneit un- dressed and p9l oa t.-y litiie b.rhing cos- tune. which consisted only of a tunie and drawers ! mace ny clothes mo A bundle and stowed them away ID [ eft Thca ike a cal | clam 0ered dp he roe Ks, hiding behind every prelerton. and keeping fearful watch upon the sentl- nel at the head of the gully
 " fortunately the gully @as not very deep. When l reached the top cfept on my hands and feet until judged ! was we'll out of sight, and started tor ,he end oi the point. took my tune. for the moment of action WAS long enough distant, and had to husband my strength. At last l reached the rock from which l meant to dart. and ,a; down to wat for the laggcrs signal.
 " did not know the time, ari could only guess !, oy calculating from the sun set. How long should have 10 wai, :: How long did l wait: Heaven knows. but II seemed an age. go, sleepy from my day eSeTtions The night aIr was cold, too, and my clothing. admirably adapted for exercise. was soInewha, scaniy for sitting stiil. Besides, !, ~as damp. The xre;chedness of iha, long watch comes before me nos. And. oh would the slo@ miautes never pass
 l waited so long that i believed must have fallen asleep and missed the