Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-06-27

"Why not get lin to dive for the great
pearl which IS sanken close by the Ban
gale Rocks"
But would he do it," returned the
baronet, catching at the idea.
snake him do it, suggested the
merchant. ''Promise him the hand OF
Bella, if he succeeds"
"And suppose he does succeed"
she cannot. Among those rocks
there is a current running so swift and
furious that no mortal man can with
stand it. Over twenty of the best native
divers have lost their lives in pursuit of
that pearl. / have seen logs of wood
sunk near those rocks, with something
attached to them to sink them, and in a
few moments the surface of the water
would be covered with splinters. | tell
You if he dives there, he comes not up
alive"
Every WELL" returned Lakin, after
some thought; '1f you say so, so be it. !"
81 do say so, and let it be done as
soon as you please"
And so it was settled,
This pearl, after which Allen 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 We're I'M
der water together, when an oyster of
extraordinary size was seen. 1t was
brought up and opened, and within was
found pearl as large as robins egg.
As the boat was nearing the shore,
dispute arose among the divers as to
who should receive pay for the pearl
From words they passed to blows, and
in the struggle the oyster was lost over
board. 1t sank near the rocks, and as
the oyster was dead, it could not have
moved away by any yolition OF its own.
"No, no, moi" cried Bella, after Allan
had informed her of the ordeal her faith
er had given him to pass. "You shall
not do this Oh, all who have tried it
have died !"
''But it must be so" returned the
youth, calmly and firmly. "Your father
has given me his solemn words, in pres
ence of the councillor, Sudham, that if
bring him up the pearl / shall have your
hand. If die, then so let it be; but
feel that / shall not. Last night had
the most pleasant and promising dreams,
and / have not single fear in the pros
pect Think If | succeed-you are
mine forever Oh, we will not look be-
yond this And listen: / think / hold
a secret which none of the divers have
fairly considered. They have always
taken the time of the whole ebb of the /
tide, thinking that the water would be
more still then; but am sure that the /
the tide has begun to come in. At the +
ebb, there is surely mighty current +
around those rocks, induced by f
some subterTanean channel, but when
the tide has turned, and been half an
hour on the food, think the water is
more calm below, though it surges so
furiously at the surface But do not dis
suade me. l know the undertaking is
perilous: but what is my love for you,
4 would not risk my life to gain il"
A vast crowd was collected about the
shore opposite the Bangale Rocks. The
story of the strange trial whicl was to
come off had become known among the
people, and they had assembled to wit
ness it. The chief magistrate was there,
md other magistrates of that section.
Bella was there with her father, and she
vas pale and trembling.
The hour had come-the moment of
heclear ebb-but the pearl diver was
lot yet present. Nearly half
N hour had passed away, and
he people began to imagine
hat he would not come. But Just
S the murmur was becoming general, a
,oat appeared coming around a distant
'oint, in which were three men. One
f them was Allan Wilton. He stood in
he bow Of the boat, and his bearing was
Irm and sure. He was dressed in a
lose-fitting garb Of oiled silk
At length the boat stopped, and there
fas hushed stiffness upon the shore.
he water was in wild connection, and
he surges dashed madly among the !
ocks.
"Oh, he shall not dive I" gasped Bel !
1, clasping her hands in agony. But her !
lther babe her be STILL
-Four stout oarsmen rowed the boat to !
be spot where the youth wished to stop,
nd where they held it. He did not !
each the place where the water Missed !
nd boiled, but stopped at some distance
.om it. A few moments the light bark
.embled close by the mighty caldron,
nd then the youth stood upon the bow 2
lie cast one glance upon the fair form 1
nat now leaned upon the baronet for e
lpport, and then he closed his hands
bove his head, and prepared to dive. ?
here was low murmu upon the shore,
Ike the rumblingo of distant storm, and
very eve was eagerly fixed upon that g
oble form. In moment more, the di-
Or left the bow of the boat, his body L
ibrated an instant in the air, and on Q
lie next thetroubled waters had closed
yer it.
Bella Larlin stood with hands firmly
asped, her eyes fixed with a wild, v
lcant stare upon the spot where the
Duth had gone down, while every 2
uscle and nerve in her frame seemed Z
xed as marble.
The minutes passed-one-two &
. Al a