Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-07-01

him. ''Why not get him 70 owe ior the
great pearl which is sunken close by the
Bangale Rocks?n
"But would he do itP" returned the
baronet. catching at the idea.
Make him do il. suggested the mer-
chant. promise him the hand of Bella
if he succeeds
And suppose he does succeed
ssTJe cannot Among these rocks there
is current running so swift and furious
that no mortal man can withstand it.
Over twenty of the best native divers
have lost their lives in pursuit of that
pearI. have seen logs of wood sunk
near these rocks, with something attached
to them to sink them. and in few mo-
ments the surface of the water would be
covered with splinters. | tell you If he
dives there he comes not up alive"
'sVerv well,r returned Lakin, after
some thought; ''if you say so, so be 1t.
II do saw so. and let it be done as soon
as you please"
And so it was settled.
This pearl. after which Allan was to be
requested to dive, was one which had
been taken some years before on bank
not far from the rocks. Three divers
were out, and all three of them were
under water together, when an oyster OF
extraordinary size was seen. 1t was
brought up and opened, and within was
found a pearl as large as robins
egg. As the boat was near
ing the shore, dispute arose
among the divers as to who should re-
ceive pay for the pearl. From words
they passed to blows, and in the Struggle
the oyster was lost overheard. 1t sank
near the rocks, and as tie oyster was
dead, it could not have moved away by
any volition of its own.
'sNo, no, mop cried Bella, after Allan
had informed her of the ordeal her father
had given him to pass. "You shall not
do this. Oh, all who have tried it have
diedin
'sBut it must be so, returned the
youth, calmly and firmly. ''Your father
has given me. his selemn word, in pres
encseof - cilof,> Sudham, that if |
brl up the pearl L shall have your
ha die, then so let it be; but II
fed shall not Last night | had
the pleasant and promising dreamsA
and We not single fear in the prosE
pectl link: If / succeed-you are mineA
forey more. Oh, we will not look be
vond is! And listen: think | hold a
secret hat none of the divers have fairly
considered They have always taken the
time Of the whole ebb of the tide, think,
ing that the water would be more still
then: but am sure that the most quiet
time at the bottom is after the tide has
/ begun to come in. At the ebb, there is
surely a mighty current whirling around
those rocks, induced by the subterranean
channel; but when the tide has turned,
and been half an hour on the flood, |
think the water is more calm below,
though it surges so furiously at
the surface. But do not dissuade
me. know the undertaking is perlous;
but what is my love for thee, if | would
mot risk my life to gain it2"
A vast crowd were collected about the
shore opposite the Bangle rocks. The
story of the strange trial which was to
come off had become known among the
people, and they had assembled to wit
ness it. The chief magistrate was there,
and other magistrates of that section.
Bella was there with her father, and she
was pale and trembling.
The hour had come-the moment Of
the clear ebb--but the pearl diver was
not vet present. Nearly half an hour
passed away, and the people began to
imagine that he would not come. But
lust as the murmur was becoming gen
eral, boat appeared, coming around
distant point, In which were three men.
One of them was Allan Wilton. He
stood IN the bow of the boat, and his
bearing was firm and sure. He was
dressed in a close-ftting garb of oiled
silk. with simple skirt of silk about
his loins which reached half way to his
knees.
At length the boat stopped, and there
was hnshed stiffness upon the shore.
The water was in wild commotion, and
/ the surges lashed madly among the rocks.
"Oh, he shall not divef" gasped Bella,
/ clasping her hands In agony. But her
/ father bade her be STILL
Four stout oarsmen rowed the boat to
the spot where the youth wished to stop,
and there they held it. He did not reach
the place where the water Kissed and
boiled, but stopped at some distance
from it A few moments the light bark
trembled close by the mighty caldron,
and then the youth stood upon the
bow. He cast one glance upon the fair
form that now leaned upon the baronet
for support, and then he closed his hands
above his head and prepared to dive.
There was a low murmur upon the shore,
/ like the rumbling of distant storm,