The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-03-07

within me-
Sndd, My raised nv head aud tormed
bold resolve. | would save HIM. Yes, l!
The kill which | had attained for my own
needless pleasure should be put to stern SER
vice. / Diet armined that when the lugger
showed her signal in answer IT, that treach-
rrous one from the shore, / would swim out
to the buoy and keep myself sfoat at the en-
trance OF thu channel until | could batl our
people and warn them OF their danger.
never hesiialed after ! had formed this
resolution. forgot that | was hungry aud
tired, and brgau instantly t" max. my prep
arations. On the narrow ledge OF rock
where now knelt undressed and put on
my little bathing costume, which consisted
only of iunic and drawers. l made my
clothes into bundle and slowed them away
in cleft. Then like cat | clambered up
the rocks, hiding behind every pr lection,
and keeping fearful watch upon the senti-
mel al the head Of The gully.
Fortunately the gully was not very deep.
When l reached the top | crept Oh my hands
and feet until judged / was we'll out of
sight, and started for the end of the Point.
l took my time, for the moment of action
was long enough distant, and had to hus-
band my strength. at last | reached the
iock from which meant to dart, and sat
down to wait for the lugger's signal
did not know The time, and could only
guess IL by caiculyting from The sunset. Fl DIV
tong should have To wait? How hong did
wall? Heaven knows, but 1t seemed an
age. got sleepy from my days exertinns.
The -Iigh, ar was cold, too; and my Cloth
ing, admirably adapted for exercise. was
somewhat, scaniy for sitting still. Besides,
II WAS damp. The wreichedness If that
long watch comes before me now. AID oh I!
would the slow minutes never pass?
/ "a a .ads l.,,U h, I u..1 7
have fallen asleep and missed the signal,
and was OF The brink of bGrying my face
in my hands anu giving way TO despair.
when l checked myself-and fashi far out
on the dark sea, there it was! | sprang to
my feet, every nerve tngliug. The mo
ment for action had arrived.
paused moment To take the bearings
Of The buoy. l knew ex,cty how it lay
from the Point, for had swan around II
often enough. But not in the lark. Mi
With the water vast, heaving black plain,
m ngli' with the black sky.
But l never tesiIated. In | weot, and
after q few strokes tue sense of vigorous ex-
ercise, exultati0n In physical power and
skill overcame my nisgivings. Ga | went,
struggling hard 10 keep my wits about me,
in spite of the horr n that would rush Over
my brain low and az 4ih. 1t was hard work,
too, for the tide was coming in, there were
pirdhCib III Luc SudltOWS, atu III the channel
the tide ran fast aud strong. Once all but
gave up. got out of the channel among
the breakers, and The buffeting and banging
bewildered me, SO that fell into sort of
panic. threw myself on my back, and
In the very act, thanks 10 my practiced eye
sigh, caught sight of the buoy. There it
WAS bobbing up and down like silly black
cork.
Iswam up to 1t and kept close by. 1t was
like friend in all this wild desolatlon of
heaving seas. But now came The wors;
watch of the VIII lie. The luggpr must pass
wi hin halt Ot me, but what if my strength
gave out? For it was ebbng fast. / mad
been without food for hours. lad walked
many miles, aud swimming is most exact
ing exercise. Still, | was not gong to give
up at the last pinch, aud had my reward.
little CLEAN of parting waves, black
mass cemi on, towering blacker than the
darsness, and l hailed them, White Ss an,
ahoyv
A voice came from the darkness, white
Swan, it is; who are you?'
Lay-to, aud throw rope over your star
board quarter
The Iugger was only abouts30 yards dis
tant. / made my last effort aud swan to
her. A rope was thrown aud they hauled
me on board, and l had just time TO give
my warning before | fell fanting ON the
deck.
When l came to myself the last keg of our
cargo was being lowered overheard We
seie some little distance up the coast and
hoats We're attached to the k gs so that We
might be able TO Fl d them az in.
81 expeditiously was all this done that 1t
was only some two hours after wards that We
beat cautiously up the CHI ant ell with the last
Of the Hood and cast anchor close TO the
mouth Of the gully. All was perfectly still.
We pulled ashore in our boat and stepped ON
land, when, IN moment, dark figures start
ed up, lights flashed upon US, and we were
surrounded by soldiers.
'In lbe kings nameP said the officer com
ing forward.
IL was picturesque group. Illuminated as
it was by the Pickering light of The torches
which some of the soldiers carried. NV tall
old grandsire, with his weath+r-bea en- face
and gray ha r; the boyish, handsome young
officer, bright with scarlet and gold and
steel; the stoid seamen in their blue jer-
seys and SOU westers; the soldiers With their
bronzed faces and glIttering accou rements,
aid, suppose, myself. disguised in suit of
oil skins and big SOU wester that covered
my rebellious hair
My grandfather said nothing when the
young lieutenant ordered The sergeant to
board the iugger, and ly twinkle If his
keen gray eye showed his enjoyment of the
scene. The soldiers had TO row, AVID clum-
silly enough they did 1t, provoking one Of he
stolid eeamen 10 loud lauga, which he in
stantly suppressed.
The sergeant was back again pretty soon,
his face, formerly red, now parple with
wrath.
We've been made fools of, STRIP he ex-
claimed, saiuting the lieutenant. Nothing
on board except some neis.'
The lien fapaut'a faaa fall for rnomonf.
then he looked amused al the sergeant's
discontinue.
) arch themv he said, Well make it
surer'
A couple of soldiers held my grandfather
while the sergeant searched him. aud found
nothing. Nor dad the others prove better
worth examination.
l was hiding behind my grandfsther's back,
hoping To escape obs .rvation. But the SER
geant caught me by the wrist. My grand
father interposed.
There is nothing contraband on that boyp
said he, perempturiy.
'Pil soUn Bee that ans wered the soldier,
grasping my wrist until / could have
screamed with pain.
Ny grandfather did not strike him, but
administered q kind OF push with his heavy
shoulder that sent the sergeant, big as he
was, staggering some yards away. With the
ioosihR nj MS noiu slppeu ana aim 81 Ieii !,
off went my SOU wes,er, and down, a'asl
came my long brown hair all over me-. The
young officer instantly stepped between the
sergeant aud me.
I don't think we need search this young
ster. sergeant he said in tone of quiet au-
thority. he is not likely TO have anything
contraband about him. Where have you
been to-nightr he added, turning to my
grandfather, while got the back
ground greatly confused and Conscious that
In officer ha6 found me out.
Lobster fishing answered my GRANDPA
Their, composedly.
Not much sport, I'm afraid said the lieu
tenant, sarcastlcsliy.
oh, yes; We caught few answered my
grandfather, ganclng around at the soldiers
coats.
The lieutenant was good-humored and
| could take joke. 'Ahl but they're black
when they're caught said he with smi'e
that showed very white and even set of
teeth.
AYE. aye, sir said my grandfather with
twinkle Ia his eye again; 'but they're red
when they're donep
The lieutenant laughed outright. You've
| got the best of us this time, Mr.. Wilson,