Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1895-05-23
THURMONT Frederick County, Maryland, Thursday May 23, 1885,

told him be should not reach home be-
fore the storm broke.
IN a few minutes the gale will break,
said Langley to himself. This is nice
sort of cockle- shell to be abroad in the
dark If the water gets sloppy. 1twould
be no easy job to land here. Isuppose
if the storm does come down particularly
heavy l must take it as judgment sent
as punishment for stealing the boat
All at once the trees on the bank set
up shrill whistle of alarm, and the
woods on the hills took up the alarm
and burst into roar. The channel Of
the river was filled with a barrier of
wind and rain. through which, IN spite
of Langley's utmost efforts, he could not
press the skiff.
Water flashed in spray from the bows,
and stopped aboard at the counter. He
tasted the salt water on his mustache
He bent his head under. the rain flung
upon his neck, and felt it run down his
back.
The banks were steep and almost in.
discernible. 1fthe punt were swamped
it would go hard with him. He was
strong and healthy; only twenty-seven;
full of life and hope; he was just begin
ming to see road towards competency.
Then there was Kate-there was Kate!
No, no; it would never do to drown
here.
But the boat was half full, the banks
high and dim. the storm tremendous
It looked as if he were to perish after
all.
BY Jove, that gust had whirled the
punt's head round as if she was cork.
Yet it would be cruel as we'll as 1idicu-
lous to die here.
And still the tempest was oyer-whel
ming; the water getting sloppy the
punt heavier-deade and deader.
Let him try to make out the exact
point Of the river where the water was
jolting, and tossing and wounding his
puny skiAI
Yes he was III the Long Reach, where
the bank on either side is steep.
Stay What was the low. coffin .shap.
ed thing standing back against the
frantic sky?
There was the old deserted boathouse
with the slip.
Thank God If he could only reach
the slip and jump ashore, scramble
ashore, swim ashore, all would be well.
Think of it--all would be we'll He
should again see the sunlight in the
fields, and the sails on the shining sea,
and Kate in her white gown He should
again move back the straying tresses of
golden hair from the forehead, he should
move back her straying tresses with this
same palm which was now grinding
against the harsh wood of the oar, in
desperate endeayor to tear his life from
the trough of the water
At last firm earth held his limbs and
body up. He no longer rocked and
swayed in all his body.
Drenched and sodden, he scrambled
up the slip. He made no effort to save
the punt. The moment he stepped
ashore she had been swept away.
u must mako that boat good to the
owner, though she has been nearly the
death of me. I'll never put my foot
aboard another craft less than a five
tonner from this until l die
Oh, what hard work it bad been to
keep ones feet when staggering up that
treacherous old slip to gain its place,
with its shelter and it's security, from
the mouths of the Tipping, ravening
waters.
This boat-house was now used, they
said, by Black Billy. the gamekeeper,
as lair from which be might surprise
poachers by night. Poachers were many
and daring in this neig hborhood. Black
Billy entertained a particular hatred
against them. Pray heayen they might
not mistake him for Black Billy, or Black
Billy him for one of them.
No door on the boat-hcuse. That
did not matter. 1t afforded plenty Of
shelter, and that was what one now
needed, and 10 !! in the light of a match.
heap Of straw, large heap OF straw,
at the end far from the door.
In his saturated condition to lie down
; on the straw would be to secure illness
and invite death. If he walked briskly
up and down until he became warm and
then crept under the straw fellow
would not only escape chill, or rheu-
matism, but enjoy the advantage Of by.
dropathic treatment.
Langley began pacing the floor as
rapidly as the limits of the building and
the darkness would permit. In half an