The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1889-08-07

time to 20 this way than TO return all
that long way by the road"
For all that, sir j. is by the road you
must go. see you're a stranger here, sir,
or you wouldn't talk so calm Of walking
to St Bridgets over the Witches Sands,
the awfullest Guicksands along the coast
The Lord help you, for no one else could
if you get into those sands.
Qnicksandsi said with gasp, as I
thought that only for my chance meet
ing with this man | should. in all proba-
5ility. have walked on uuconsciously to
an awful doom. " Do they lie between Us
and the point?"
Yes sir"
looked along the level sands. The
rain had quite stopped. The sun was
low down on the horizon, and the wet
sand was cleaning in the setting rays.
Here and there the retreating tide had
left pools of water behind il, and in these
l could see the reflection Of the pale yell
low band of light, in the middle Of which
the sun was sinking TO rest. To my eyes
it all seemed one long even stretch, with
nothing to tell of the treacherous sands
which were waiting to swallow up the
unwary traveller.
"Ah, sir, you might look long while
afore you'd see the Witches Sands" said
Bill. interpreting my puzzled expression.
There's but one mark you can steer by
Heavens danger signals. calls them.
Do YOU see, sir, 4 white mark there down
the face Of the rock, about one hundred
yards this side Of the point, and another
mark the same about 100 and 80 yards
along from where you are standing
now. Well, you're safe enough 50 long
az YOU don't get inside either Of them.
They're some sort Of white moss as grows
down the ciiil, and only for them there's
many a one would have lost his life.
There's some Of them foolhardv chaps as
d)n't seem happy unless they're pC.iing
their precious lives in danger, without
eivin a thought 70 the mOtheror wife that
is maybe dependin' upon them, as has
climbed the whole way along the face Of
the cliff, round 10 st. Bridgests. But You
see, sir. the eliH hangs over a good bit,
and It's nasty shaley stnf, as gives no
grip for hands and feet. and if it gives
way under you-down you 20, straight
on to the quicksands, and then nothing
but a miracle could save YOU"
Well" said, 1T is most fortunate I
met you here, for l should most certainly
have tried to find my way across the
sands. It is great shame the author
tiles DO not put up notice board to
warn people Of their danger
Aye, sir. there was a warning board
up all through the summer, but the first
s.es.-4 in the winter carried It away and
you see, sir, it's only once in a way as
visitors comes here afore June or July;
so | suppose as how they thought it
wasn't worth while to put il up SO soon
like. And SOL"
He stopped short and shaded his eyes
from the dazzle of the setting sun.
"Good heavens he calculated. what
is that? Can you see, sir? My sight is
not as good as it was. Is that anybody
ridin round the pJint?"
A sudden, sickening presentiment came
over me- My heart gave bound, and
then seemed TO stand still. ! shaded my
eyes, too, and gazeu out to the point.
One look was enough. sprang for
ward with a scream. stop Stop" l
shouted
For in that one glance had recognized
beyond doubt the outline of Uncle Mats
ewe-necked mare, silhouettedswith pain
ful distinctness against the pale yellow Of
the sky, and riding her-slowly in our di
rection- lady who could be no other
than Celia.
The concentrated agony Of years SEEM
ed to be all crowded into that moment of
time. Man ~ cried, clutching Bill by
the shoulder, that is my wife," Ny
wife, tell you? Then, letting him go,
waved my arms wildly. Go back 90
back !" called.
The wind blew the words down my
throat And still could see Celia slowly
but surely approaching the white mark
-" Heavens danger signal"
With no distinct idea of what | meant
to do, | was beginning to run towards
the advancing rider, still waving my
arms as though TO pnsh her back from
her awful fate. Bill caught me by the
sleeve.
What are you doin, sir? You won't
save her that way. II she sees you at all
she'll more likely think you are beckon-
ing her on than telling her - so back.
There's only one thing you can do. sir.
Run fJr your life till you get within a
couple of yards of the white mark near
est ls-then take TO the rocks, the way
was telling you just now, and may hap
may hap you'll get across in time.
heard no more. / had torn off my
coat and hat and was flying along to-
wards the white mark at racking speed.
1t did not take me long to reach the
spot where | must leave the sands for
the rocks. Before beginning my perlious
climb, cast one hasty glance in Celia's
direction. Was already too late? No
thank God \ hysterical sob of joy arose
in my throat as saw that some whirn of
the moment had induced her to stop in
her onward way, in order to try 10 oblige
her horse to walk into the sea. | had
Just time to see that the horse was sestive
and kept backing away from the adyane-
ing waves into which she was evidently
bent on urging it, and then my whole en-
ergies of mind and body to be concentra-
ted IN the difficulty Of making my way
along the shaley face Of the cliff.
Rising straight up from the sand for
about twenty feet was sheer, smooth
slab of rock, which afforded absolutely
no foothold, but above this came the
strata of shale along which / was seramb-
ling as best l could. The overhanging
cliff above me looked as though it were
longing to fall over and push me down
down on to the horrible, hungry sands
below. The esbale cut my hands and broke
away from under my feet at each step,
and all the time there was the haunting
fear that | should be too late; that be-