Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-05-01

long ago as lfoU a three ueCAoi A-AHAA
went ashore there in furious winter gale
and, with one exception, every living soul o.
board of her, TO the number OF 1Oo, wa
drowned.
The one exception was a man la Irons, VIZ
came safely and serenely ashore seated
upon a piece of wreckage. Nobody evel
knew how the shipwreck happened, least o
all the survivor in irons, but the tradition o
the terror Of the scene yet lives in the dis
trict. and the spot where the bones OF th'
drowned men still peep grimly through thu
sand is not unnaturally supposed to be haunt
ed. Ever since this catastrophe large bel
dit was originally the bell Of the i'll fated YES
sci itself. and still bears her name, H NJ. 3.
Thunderer," stamped upon its metal ha'
been fixed upon the highest rock, and II
times of storm and at high tide sends ID
solemn note of warning booming across the
deep.
But the bell was quiet now, and just be
meath it, in the shadow Of the rock wherein
It was placed, a man half hidden in seaweed
with which he appeared to have purposely
covered himself, was seated upon piece OF
wreck. In appearance he was a very fine
man, big shouldered and broad limbed, and
his age might have been 50 or a little more.
OF his frame, however, what between the
mist and the unpleasantly damp seaweed
with which he was wreathed. not much was
to be seen. But such light as there was fell
uDon his face as he peered eagerly over and
rounu the rocK, ana glinted uown the barrels
Of the double ten-bore gun which he held
across his knee II was a striking counte-
nance, with its brownish eyes, dark peaked
beard and strong features, very powerful and
very able And yet there was a certain soft
ness in the face, which lowered around the
region Of the mouth like light at the edge Of
dark cloud, limiting at gentle sunshine.
But little Of this was visible now. Godfrey
Bingham, barrister at-law Of the Inner Tenn
Pile, NJ. A., was engaged with a very serious
occupation He was trying to shoot curlew
as they flew over his hiding place on their
way 10 the mud banks where they feed fur
ther along the coast
Now if there is a thing in the world which
.alls for the exercise Of mans every faculty
1t is curlew shooting in mist. Perhaps he
may wait for On hour or even two hours and
zee nothing. not even an oyster catcher.
Then at last from miles away comes the
faint wild call of curlew on the wing He
nrains his eyes: the call comes nearer, but
nothing can be see. AT last, seventy yards
Or more 70 the right, he catches sight Of the
flicker Of beating wings, and like flash
they are gone. Again call-the curlew are
fighting He looks and looks in his excite
ment struggling 70 his feet, and raising his
head ineautiously far above tue sheltering
rock. There they come, a great flock Of
thirty or more. bearing straight down on
him, a hundred yards off -eighty-sixty
now. Up goes the gun, but alas and alasl
they catch a glimpse Of the light glinting on
the barrels, and perhaps OF the head behind
them, and in another second they have
broken and scattered this way and that way,
twisting of like a wisp Of gigantic snipe and
vanishing with melancholy cries into the
depth Of mist
This Is bad. but the ardent sportsman sits
down with a groan and waits, listening to
the soft lap of the tide. And then at last
virtue is rewarded. First Of all two wild
duck come over, clcaving the air like arrows.
The mallard is missed, but the left barrel
reaches the duck, and down il comes with
full and satisfying thud. Hardly have the
cartridges been replaced when the wild cry
Of the curlew is once more heard-qute close
This time There they are, looming large
against the fog. Bang down goes the first
and lies tapping among the rocks. Like
fash the second is away 10 the left Bang
after him, and caught him, tool Hark to
he splash as he falls into the deep water
ifty yards away And then the mist closes
N so densely that the sport is done for the
lay. Well that right and left has been
worth three hours wait in the wet seaweed
md the violent cold that may follow-that
q
just such an experience as this had befallen |
5eoifrey Bingham He had bagged his wild |
luck and his brace Of curlew-that is. he had |
Jagged one Of them, for the other was float |
NJ in the sea-when sudden increase in the |
lensity Of the mist put a stop to further ope- |
ations He shook the wet seaweed Off his 1
ough clothes, and, having lit short brier |
,ipe. set TO work 10 hunt for the duck and the |
irst curlew He found them easily enough, /
nd then. walking to the edge Of the rocks, |
p the sides Of which the tide was gradually |
Keeping, peered into the mist to see if he
ould find the other. Presently the fog lifted
little, and he discovered the bird floating on
he oily water about fifty yards away A
title to the left the rocks ran out in a peak,
nd he knew from experience that the tide
citing toward the shore would carry tho cur
NV past this peak So he went to its extrem-
y, sat down upon big stone and waited.
ALI this while the tide was rising fast,
hough, intent as be was upon bringing the
urlew to bag, he did not pay much heed to
: forgetting thar il was cutting him off from
be land. At last, after more than half an
our Of waiting, he caught sight of the bird
gain, but as bad luck would have it, it was
i'll twenty yards or more from him and in
eep water He was determined, however,
get the bird if he could, for Godfrey hated
aving his game So he pulled up his trou-
RS and set to work to wade towards it For
ie first few steps all went well, but the
'urth or fifth landed MIN in hole that wet
Is right leg nearly up to the thigh and gave
IS ankle a severe twist. Rejecting that it
ould be very awkward if he sprained his
axle in such lonely place, he beat a retreat,
ID bethought him that unless the curlew
as to become food for the dogfish he had
liter strip bodily and swim for it. This
r Godfrey was man Of determined mind
decided to do. and had already taken or
5 coat and waistcoat TO that eud, when sud
My some sort of boat-he judged it to be
canoe from the slightness of its shape
omed up in the mist before him An idea
-uck him The canoe or its orr,inant IL