Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1884-11-12
The Peril and Escape,

Then they constructed a sOlidlv
DuIIt dam of logs completely across the
stream, which they named Clear river
IhuS shutting off the water from it's
pea, the overflow escaping by long
race-way, or fiume.
In the dry bed of the river was To-
Gated Clear river mine, and the miners
soon found all their labor well reward
ed; for the sands of the mountain tor
rent literally shOne with gold that had
peeh torn from some crumbling quartz
ieuge that had barred its breast to the
turbulent waters iOr'centuries. or from
many a tortured bowlder whiried along
IN crazy dance in the rivers cold em7
brace. WV 0'''
Inc last ounce of shining dust had
been taken from the delicate scales
and the four men grouped around the
rude table looked into each others
eyes that shOne brighter with the light
Of success than the gold for which
they had so patiently toiled
Ten thousand dollars, bows =
twenty-five hundred a share !" laughed
one OF the brown-faced miners
Ihat's a pretty good showing for a
month OF rocking the cradle, A few
more dividends like that, and then
reckon that I'll 90 home. There's q
little woman in a little brown bonea 7
know OF that will be glad to see me
bless her brave little heart =,
Home The four partners in tho
Oiear river mine were all from the far
away East, and at that word stern
faces sottened, and more than one
hand lnyoluntarily sought a ragged
breast, wherein was concealed a nre-
cSlous packet Of well worn letters from
loved ones over the mountains
But one of them-a frank-faced
young tellOw-arose from the table
glanced halfanxiously, half-hesitating,
ly at his companions, then Turned from,
them and went to the little cabin win |
dow and looked out into the night
What's the trouble with Won. I'm !
ton Z" was the general inquiry.
upton strobe uneasily toward his |
fellow miners.
cannot answer YOUR 0uestion
boys, for the truth of it is l don't know
myself. can only say that a FEELING
as II we are III mortal danger this very
it off, ''' ''''i 'ii''Ae
A laugh went round the table-a
hearty, ringing laugh-the laupb Of
men who scorn the thought of danger
and yet they could not but feel i'm.
pressed by the young fellows earnest
Upton joined in the laugh at his ex-
pense; but that strange, flr-ofF look ne
Jf one whose spirit is not with the hodv
never left his face He went hack t0
he window again, and then threw
'pen the cabin door, turned his head
ma said, pleasantly: "pll be with Won
n short time, boys" and then closed
he door behind him.
There was neither sparkle of star
lor the talntest CLEAN of the moon to
lghten the shadows into which he
The air was soft and warm
against his face as a woman,s breotb
NO SOUND came to his ear save the
oar OF the frothing flume, which was
ne width Of the river bed from the
abin. O''' '''0
Upton descended the steep bank and
'egan to pick his way over the rough
tones OF the claim, with the great
ace OF the dam rising up at his side =
IKE some huge prison wall.
lie stopped and listened a moment
lie heard queer little gurgles-faint
Oft, tapping sOunds-a soft. subdued {
wish, as of hurrying waters and vet !
tier all, there was a certain ruthless
aim about those strong, unseen floods.
ehmd that cool, dark wall, that bore
violence of immense power {
mud 1t was as if some mighty !
titanic missiles had been hurled
galnst the walls. 1t was only an nm I
)rn tree born with terrific force [
gainst the dam, several feet above his t
cad. ms t
" How the river has crept up since !
lghtiall! / knew the rain of the last {
NO days would cause a rise: but this a
'oks serious. Luckily, the dam will 2
and the pressure of a common Il
OOdw a
He laid his ear close to one of the e
timbers of the dam. c
The immense weight of water /
oesn't even jar it (" he murmured. Il
Picking his way over the rocky
ver-bed was no easy matter in that
llck obscurity; but his Familiarity \
18th every foot of the locality helped n
i'm, and in a short time he stood he Il
de the fume. ii
An, here was uprOar enough The a
ume was full to the verv tonmost +,
!ank. A hiss of flying spray struck il
i'm sharply in the face but he pave n
heed to the ice-cold drOps that n
ung to his forehead. n
That strange premonitory, haunting II
cling had unwrapped his every sense. a
Upton felt, rather than thought. that a.
'meWhere out in this coal darkness Il
rked danger, and he knew not how II
IN what shape it was to come. v
He had walked long distance down "
Y the side of the flume. when he heard n
sharp clatter among the rocks of the n
~ riVer-bed, as ofsome one stunnblinT n
saylly, followed by muttered curse. 81
Ihat voice He knew it, and he r
tut his teeth sharply to keep back an p
lclamatiOn of horror. n
sam LomaX, the rOad-agent. the ter Fl
# OF the honest, Woodworking miner. ei
whatsoever mine, together with his ii
erciless band of renegades and In T
ans, was creeping up this river-bed. OF
I'd this midnight raid meant death to u
e four partners of the Clear river al
inc. Al
Rallying every energy, he turned D,
I'd fled up the river-bed as for dear Sc
e. Not of his own danger was he
linking, but rather of the peril of the
warned men in the little cabin von- -
'r-his "pards who had become so u
ldeared to him through the MANY IN
onths of weary privation and toll. so q
eerily shared together; his com eel
DIES, unto whom his soul Glove with IA
love as strong as that of brother. IA IA
Why did objects beside him, before Ia Ia
m, become so distinct? He threw ~
, his head as he ran. IN
The clouds were parting, and he per-
ived that in a few moments their -
endly aid would be withdrawn. The II,
Don would burn like some great DO
ltch-fire in the heavens, and his f6aSl