St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1893-05-06

1t was already moving steadily ava,
and he surmised that the currents I
the singular lake, or river, SO ran rs I
carry the mass round and round III
cave.
| After slowly climbing upward fc
six or seven feet Macdonald came I
the top Of the island, and then lcarnc
that his theory As to the dim illumins
ton was correct The island was ci,
cular. about half m acrc in extent, an
near Its center was the fire. now burr
ing low.
The island shelved from its elevate
sides toward the center, and on &C
count of the bowl-!il1e surface i. wa
impossible to sec the entire area, al
though the edges could not be distinct
ly Seen on account of the inability @
the fire, except in its immediate vicin
ity. to overcome the power of the dark
| ness.
Rolled in blankets and stretclc,
around the firc were eight robbers
About ten feet from the fire was a wig
wan covered with strips of straw mat
ting that had been laid upon the slant
ing poles of the frame. That his .lcal
Helen was in this wigwam Macdonald
felt almost certain.
How TO act under the circumstances,
was most perplcxing. To attempt to
rescue Helen, or even to communicate te
with her. would be an undertaking
frauyht with the creates: hazard.
While our hero hesita.cd his eyes
were attracted to some pluader tha!
the robbers had left in q pile short
distance from where he stood.
Among the articles were heavy horse
blankets A bright idea came to Mac.
Donald. lie removed his shoes, went
in his stocking feet to the pile. select
ed two blankets and approached tho
Ere and the cigh: men, who slept
soundly after the artluous work OF the
previous night.
Macdonald did not, however. spend
any time in thinking of the singularity
and peril Of his situation. In the most
careful manner he proceeded to cover
the burning sticks with the blankets
and to smother the FIRE.
Once more the cave was wrapped in
inky blackness. Macdonald moved the
slide of his lantern sufficiently to give
him the little light that he needed.
lie approached the wigwam with 4
beating heart.
Yes, Helen was there!
She recognized him and dio not
scream.
At this moment one of the villains
awohc.
''What is the matter with the fire."
he cried
Macdonald had taken the precautiou
to close his lantern while Helen and he
were whispering, SO that there was no
danger Of immediate discovery.
The man got up and began to tumble
around. His companions awo!Sc, and
sworc because they had been dis
turbed.
The situation was desperate. we'll
nigh hopeless. Macdonald feared that
he had played \ brave and most per-
ilous part only to be defeated.
While he WAS in terrible suspense.
not knowing what was best to do. the
girl whispered to him:
LET us fiy. There is boat. lcame
IN it; there is . stake with q red dag
,n it that will guide ,ne to it."
Meanwhile the robbers had discov.
red the blankets and were removing
hem from the fire. Two of the fci-
ows approached the wigwam.
As they reached it Macdonald and
Ielen left it, after he had hastily cut
In0 rnRds that 1so,>nI h.. -
,ancs behind her back.
The robbers were row thoroughly
but they could not readily ind
} lantern and could not tell where the !
ugitivcs. running noiselessly in their |
tocking feet. were.
Macdonald opened the slide of the |
antern rs soon rs he dared to do it. |
hey had reached the top Of the height |
nst above the shore. but no flag was in
iyht
The robbers saw the fuSitives. yelled /
iciously and fired their pistols. Bullets
'histlcd alarmingly near the intended
ictims.
Macdonald closed the lantern, and
olding IIclen's hand walked along the
lands edge. Again he allowed a
lean OF light to escape. He saw the
ag ten feet from him. and closed the
intern before the villains could fire.
The fugitivcs ran forward, expecting
ach moment to be prccipitated into
he water. But fortune favored them.
hey fell against the iagpolc, and re-
'vering themselves in q second. slid
yyyn the islands sfeen side /
Mac Donald opened the lantern The
Dat was at their feet They sprang
to il. Macdonald handed Helen the
intern. cut the rope. grasped the oars.
I'd they were afloat.
At this moment three Of the robbers.
aving pistols, gained the summit of
'e bank.
''Shut the lantern, /" Mac Donald cried.
Before Helen could obey the cavern
ing with discharge of firearms. The
rec men threw up their hands and
IL forward into the water.
Mac Donald knew that his friends had !,
me to the rescue just in time. He
oked behind him, and saw on the lava
elf his five brave companions waving
cir hands. |,
Awed by the fate OF their comrades,
e five robbers ON the island surrcn-
red themselves. and, with most of /,
e property they had stolen. were
ken back to Albuquerque in triumph.
Young Macdonald, the fair Helen
d their i've gallant friends were re-
ived with raptures by Col. Bleekcr
d his wife and were lionized by all
e people OF the city. A. Bolles. in
'stou Globe.
eeutences Passed by tho JadSe.
Life is an aZglomeratiou Of incon.
uities 6
Against vulgarity there IS no do. 6