Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-04-03

CraIG nearer ana nearer 10 tDein.
s'Suddenly the men in the boat expe-
rienced rapid jerk that almost threw
them into the water. The persons on
shore had evidently just discovered that
the boat was occupied and had immedi-
ately slackoned the line upon which
they had been drawing. There was no
time for hesitation, and the men in the
boat, seizing the oars, rowed for the
shore. The twopersons were then stand
ing in the same position, and as the row
'ers approached they were surprised to
see that one of the watchers was wom-
an, and they soon recognized in her
Mary Skinner, the smuggler's daughter.
The man with her was Will Blake,
and," said my companion, pausing and
turning to me, do you know where
O'Brien and his companion landed? 1t
was right here, where we are resting so
quietly-at the mouth of SINNERS
cave.
"But the cave was much larger in
those days-in fact, it is said to have
extended under half the island. How it
was curtailed to such limited space you
will learn.
Immediately on landing o O'Brien ap-
preached the pair and asked what they
were doing there. The girl, who seemed
much terrified, approached O'Brien and
said in supplicating voice:
'Oh, it is you, Mr.. O'Brien! You
will save us, will you not?'
Save youl' calculated O'Brien.
From what?'
"'From my father and jackson. But
do not delay. Let US 60. I will tell you
later on
''The girl appeared terribly fright
ened, and dragging her companion with
her made at once for the boat, O'Brien
and his mate following. Scarcely allow
ing time for the others to get seated,
she seized an oar and pushed off; then,
drawing a knife from her pocket, she
cut the cable which attached it to the
shore, and the little craft went skim
ming over the lake toward Owls Head,
helped by Will Blake, who was sculling
as though for life. For few minutes
all was silence; then there arose angry
shouts from the island, and torches
were seen to wave in all directions-men
gesticulating. Then three boats were
seen to put off from different parts of
the island and start in pursuit of the
little craft, but the latter had got too
much of a start, and by the time the
pursuers were half way across the pur-
sued had reached the beach at the foot
of Owls Head, where, leaving the boat,
they hurriedly made for the woods.
Gaining an elevation, they saw the pur-
suing boats reach the shore. Then there
was a conference, which finally ended
in the men returning to their boats, evil
IDENTIFY satisfied that it would be impos-
sible to find the fugitives in the almost
impenetrable woods which at that time
surrounded the base of Owls Head.
''After seeing the men return to the
island Mary and her companion consid
cred what had best be done next. There
were very few buildings in the vicinity
of the mountain at that time, only few
loggers' shanties, and it was decided to
seek the shelter of one of these till day
light would permit them to find path
over the mountain. O'Brien, who SEEM
ed to know the locality very well, took
them by an intricate path to a clearing
where there was a deserted log house.
Here they made themselves as comfort
able as circumstances would permit,
when O'Brien asked Mary to tell him
the cause of her alarm. She was about
to comply, when they were startled by
the sound of an explosion.
"All were on their feet in moment,
hurrying to the eminence from which
they had watched their pursuers depart.
All eyes were directed toward the is
land. No lights were visible now, but a
sort of vapor seemed to float over it, al
most enveloping it.
calculated Blake.
Ny father, my father' moaned
Mary 'Oh, come to him!'
"And starting forward again she dart
ed toward the boat, the three men fol-
lowing AS the island was approached
strong smell of gunpowder was no.
ticed, but not sound was heard. The
oarsmen rowed direct for the opening Of
Skinner's cave. Drawing the boat up
the beach, Mary leaped out and darted
forward to the opening of the cave. But
she had not proceeded many PAGES when
she was brought to sudden halt. There
was no opening. At the end OF the cave
appeared huge rock, while scattered
in all directions were pieces of splin-
tered granite that had evidently been
recently deposited there. Both Mary
and Blake, after vainly trying to find
the opening, returned to the boat and
rowed round to the side of the island,
where there was another landing place.
''Both appeared thoroughly acquaint-
ed with every part of the island, and
selecting one of two paths that came
down to the beach they darted up it and
soon reached the crest of hill. From
there they looked eagerly around, but
nothing but a scene of desolation re-
warded their gaze. The whole place
looked as if it had been recently shaken
by some violent upheaval. Trees were
uprooted, and great rocks were over
turned in all directions. Vainly Mary
and Blake, assisted by O'Brien and his
companion, searched for traces of Skin
ner and his crew. Vainly the first two
sought what to them were familiar land
marks.
''Seeing that it was useless to remain
longer on the island, the four deter
mined to row back to SINNERS house
in the hope of finding some of the SNUG
glers there, but ON their arrival the
house was found just as O'Brien had
left it. AS soon as it was light the whole
party returned to SINNERS island, but
their further search revealed nothing Of
a startling nature There were certain
ly many pieces of boards. broken barrels
and fragments of bales strewn in all
directions, but no trace of human be-
ing The whole party were forced to the
opinion that the powder magazine had
by some means exploded, blocking up
both entrances to the cave, and i'll all
probability burying all the smugglers in
the ruins.
''Both Mary and Blake told their sto-
ries to O'Brien. Captain Skinner and
his band had carried on most extensive
system of smuggling, the goods being
taken from confederates in all parts of
the country. These goods were first con-
vava6 to his ctOra ru6 then ropcoaled in