Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-04

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direction the wind set, and explaining naturally
the phenomenon. The current was so slight
that the wind, acting on the loaf, had power to
overcome Ii.
"Sho's travelling upwards" said the first
speaker. "Sho's boun to seek him aht"
Into the canal suddenly fell mass of under
mined bank. making splash and sending the
noat1ng light, gyrating and dancing as the
wayelets formed. One Of the mill-girls. going
too near the edge, had trodden on the loosened
soil, and nearly fell in herself, provoking
laugh and a reprimand.
"Mind what tha'rt aboot, lass" shouted one
OF the men.
IF tina falls in I'm none boun to hug thee
aht."
II can crawl aht wont thy hugging, Bill"
answered the girl promptly.
"Ehr said another. "Effie, for sewer thou'rt
not bawn to be drowned"
Some by play went on, half romp, in the
rear, between young woolcomber and girl
reeler.
INA then,n shouted the night watch. "we're
none come aht for lakes (games), land
If you're gaming to remain you must be
quiet"
The incongruity Of their behavior with the
gravity of the occasion struck the young peo-
pie, and they desisted.
What had become of the refuge hut?
Curiously enough, till this moment no one
had noticed its disappearance, perhaps because
OF the completeness with which it had been ef-
faced. No sooner had the stream penetrated
to its interior than it had collapsed. and every
away from the platform it had occupied.
The policeman had Joined the party, carrying
a bull's-eye lantern.
One of the men had provided graphing
irons, always kept near the bridge, because ac-
cidents were not uncommon in the canal and
the river; drunken men fell in, children in
play got pushed over. girls in paroxysms Of
despair threw themselves in.
The loaf with the light had now got above
the spot where the bank had fallen in, and the
ripple aided the wind in carrying it within the
locks
.'Sho's got an ideep'
"Wheer? 1T crust or it crumb?'
"Shos maxim rect ahead for t'deepest hoyle
(holel in all t. canal"
1t was SO, the loaf had entered within the
walls.
Every now and then, on ripple. the bread
leaped and the flame wavered as banner The
draught snuffed the glowing wick and carried
some of the red sparks away and extinguished
them in the black water.
The searchers now congregated on the paved
platform, and looked timorously yet inquisi-
lively into the gulf where lay the pool dark as
ink. The candle fame family irradiated the
enclosing walls. and painted a streak of fire on
the surface of the water.
When thus enclosed the movements of the
loaf were such as to give color to the super
stItion, for it careered in circles, then struck
across the canal, went back as If disappointed
in its quest, ran uD the course, and then turned
and went down the enclosed space and finally
came fourth from between the walls. There it
halted a moment and danced and careened
over, and rightei itself again, as relaxing from
its search, and tossing the flame in defiant
manner, as ifit was disgusted with its work
and resolved no longer to prosecute the in
quiry. But minute later it came apparently
to better mind. the fame became steadier, it
recommended its gyrations, described loop,
and suddenly became stationary at a spot a
little short of half way across the canal.
The strange conduct Of the loaf was in re-
ality caused by the currents and revolutions Of
the water, but as these were unperceived by
those who looked on. they became impressed
with the conviction that the loaf was really an
imated by mysterious occult power that i'm
PEELED it TO fulfill the task allotted to it
All now stood hushed, for full five minutes.
almost breathless, none stirring, every eye d.
rected to the light to see whether it would re-
main where it was or recommence its wander
ings.
Then the night watch exclaimed: The
moonp'
All turned to the East and saw the orb rise
once sensibly relieved. Nav thenr shouted
Bill, sin wit irons, Just at place where t canl
stands"
The grapplers were cast in, and caught i'm
mediately in some object near the surface. The
men drew at the ropes. and the waters gurgled
and were disturbed about the Loaf, producing
broad commotion. The loaf leaped, turned
over, and the light was extingulshed. II had
accomplished its task.
Whatever can't be?' asked one of the men.
'Sho might be a coil lcoaD barge sunk 1T
canal. Sho's sac heavy"
Stay" said the nightwatch. "Twater for
sewer amt deep here. nobbut up to t. armpits.
WHATEVER it be, tbs this at ha' caught and held
t. cake. Ah fancy t. top OF concarn is just be-
law t. surface. If some o. you chapS'u help, I'll
get in, and together we'll hug it out" Two or
three volunteered, and after much wading and
splashing cumbrous article was heaved out Of
the water, but not by three or four men; for
several more, taunted by the mill lasses,
went in to the assistance of the first volunteers.