St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1895-08-09
THE SMUGGLER'S CAVE.
A Legend of Lake Memphremaeoe

CONTINUED from last week
There was nothing to impede their
progress, and although the passage
was somewhat winding one it ap.
peared of uniform height and width.
They had been walking, they cal
culated, for about five minutes, when
they felt q great improvement in the
atmosphere, which had been musty.
Soon they saw a flicker of light,
which gradually grew larger and
larger, until they came to an open
ing. Emerging from this they
glanced hurriedly around. At their
feet lay the waters of Lake Mem
phremagog, with tiny row boat
floating peacefully on the surface.
Turning, they glanced at the en-
trance from which they had emerged,
but could not at first discover it, as
they had advanced two or three
steps toward the beach. Retracing
their. steps, they found that the open
ing was formed by two vast bould-
GERS, but whether they had been
placed there or whether they were
the work of nature they could not
determine. However, they were
placed in such position that the
opening could not be seen from the
lake, and there was apparently no
place where anybody could land ex-
cept at the little cove where lay the
row boat.
All this time not person had they
seen. What was next to be done
That was the question that the two
men whisperlugly discussed for a few
moments, But they appeared to be
OF one mind, and having come so far.
neither of them was inclined to turn
back without seeing the end of the
adventure. They therefore decided
to take the boat and reconnoitre.
But here another surprise awaited
them. Taking one OF the oars from
the bottom OF the boat, O'Brien at
tempted to push it off, but instead Of
gong out i'll straight line, the boat
shot Oft obliquely, rounded a rock
and then seemed to float along with
out any means OF propulsion. The
men were naturally astonished, but
they soon made the discovery that
the boat was attached to a cable
ana was being drawn rapidly
through the water. But where were
they going? Peering in the direction
IN which the boat was proceeding,
they saw short distance ahead Of
thcm a large island, flooded by the
moonlight. Several lights were fit
ting about, and it appeared that
IhIre was somewhat OF a Commo.
ton, The boat rushed through the
water as though propelled by steam,
S''Sht waves occasionally washing
over the sides. Nearer and nearer
the island they approached, and
now hey were able to distinguish
Two hgures standing on the shore.
lhtSe hgures appeared to be watch
ing the boat with interest, at the
same time they were evidently haul
ing on the line that was drawing the
craft nearer and nearer to them.
Suddenly the men in the boat eX-
Frenced a rapid jerk that almost
threw them into the water. The
PERSONS on shore had evidently just
discovered that the boat was ocCu-
Pleu, and had Immediately slaCken-
Gu 'he line upon which they had been
1TaWing. There was no time for
hesitation, and the men in the boat,
SS(e,l%Ing the oars, rowed for the shore.
i"e TWO persons there were stand
my IN the same position, and as the
.o"ers approached, they were sur
P'ISed to see that one OF the watch
NS was a woman, and they soon
recognized in her Mary Skinner, the
SS'uusgler's daughter. The man with
neT was Will Blake, and" said my
soulpanion, pausing, and turning to
me, do you know where O'Brien
GU" a his companion landed? 1t was
''s"l here, where we dire resting so
1IuletIy-at the mouth of SINNERS
=, But the cave was much larger in
snose days, in fact, it is said to have
;;N'ehded under half the island. How
IT., was curtailed to such limited space
you will learn.
lmmediately on landing, O'Brien
approached the pair and asked