Connecticut western news., 1892-11-17
THE SHADOW.

overhung at one point by high cliff known as The Smuggler's Shadow, con- corning the origin of which name is given the following singular story:
 "What did you make O them, BurkY
 "They are s'picuous looking crowd, and Set them down as United States officers" .... ....
 "Jes' my jedgment; and I reckon the boys had better be put on the lookout"
 "Co-rect. Tell them to meet down to Lingo's and I'll be long later. I jes' wanter see if everything is all right at the Horse Shoe"
 "Hadntyou better take one O the boys Tong with you? You"-
 "Bahi do you think Burk Brandon has lost the mettle of this good right arm2 No; I'll go to the Horse Shoe alone, an I'll come back, too, in spite of 'em hounds of the law"
 He was a tall, burly framed man, with coarse features and grizzly locks, his ungainly form clad in gray suit of coarse material.
 His companion, though smaller in stature, was evidently man of his own stamp. ....
 They were known as farmers by the few settlers of that thinly populated country, though had the truth been known they, with half dozen others, followed the more hazardous and un- lawful vocation of smuggling.
 The appearance of several strange men in that vicinity had naturally enough aroused their fears. It had been less than year since some officers had suddenly appeared searching for the smugglers supposed to be lurking in that locality. Though they had suc- ceeded in throwing the officials off their track then it would be more difficult to do it again. t
 Anxious each to go his way, the pre- cious twain separated, the younger has tening to warn their associates of the impending danger, while the other bent his steps toward the hiding place of their contraband goods.
 ''So the hounds think to smell me outr' muttered the smuggler chief as he followed his way. "Well, mebbe they will, but more'n likely they'll find that old Burk Brandon has keener scent than theyp and he smiled grimly, while a latent fire shone in his small gray eyes. ..r @ ."
 It was already nightfall when he reached by boat that part of the lakes shore overlooked by granite cliffs of considerable height, but the moon had risen, so the smuggler was enabled to pursue his course without difficulty.
 Winding his way amid the powders that hemmed in his path, and then wad- ing through 8 shallow pool of water, he finally came upon 8 spot where the cliff overhanging the water in semicircle formed small cove which could not be seen until fairly reached. H
 A narrow shelf about midway on the side of the precipitous ascent offered 8 foothold, and along this Brandon un- hesitatingly threaded his course.
 When reaching the toe of this shoe shaped retreat he gained an opening in the rocky wall where the curious path way ended. ..-- a'.s
 Entering within the dark recess he lighted a lantern and began to examine the place, which was in truth nearly filled with such articles as he and his confederates had concealed there, hop ing to dispose of them at their leisure.
 'Poor foolsl' he muttered, ito think that shall run the risk of staying in these parts longer. Enough of these valuables to make me independent and am off this very night Hal hal some of this old wine will clear my head for the work before me-"
 Speaking thus to himself, with an oc- casional potation of the liquor, he passed perhaps half an hour in collecting the treasures he wished to take away with him. Then, with farewell look at the balance of their plumber, he turned to retrace his course.
 Reaching the mouth of the cavern he found that the moon had risen above the line of the cliff so that its mellow light fell full upon Horseshoe cove, lighting the place to almost midday briliancy.
 Distinguishing the light, he was about to step out on the rocky pathway when he started back with low cry. Upon the opposite wall of the cliff he had discovered the shadowy outlines of man with one hand uplifted and pointed toward him.
 At first he thought the wine he had drunk had bewildered his brain and that the image was but hallucination. He rubbed his eyes and looked again | to find it still there, and after few minutes he was forced to believe his | sight. ... .-------.--.-- "Ha! seep' he chuckled, ''tis some one on the cliff and bis shadow falls on the rock there. Perhaps 'tis one of the officers lookin for mel But his shadow has betrayed him. I'll wait till he is | gone before I venture out"
 | On account of projecting rock he could not see the pathway from his cov- ert, and he dared not leave the cave lest he should be discovered and fired upon by his foes. Had he been armed with sther than knife he would have felt less uneasy. As it was he lay quiet waiting for the danger to pass.
 The time wore tediously away while his gaze was riveted on the shadowy form until his eyes became blurred and his limbs benumbed.
 To his wonder the figure continued motionless, though once or twice he fancied there was 8 slight movement.
 Several times he was upon the point of leaving the cave, trusting to escape, but he refrained frcm taking the risk.
 'The furies take 'emr' he muttsre& '.they can shoot me down nkee4 do1 waAapnt nS Nktis AxAn1k"