St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1895-08-09

plicating voice:
oh, it is you, Mr.. o Brien you
will save us, will you not?'
Save YOU calculated O'Brien :;
from what?'
From my father and Jackson;
but do not let us delay-let us go-I
will tell you latter on.
The girl appeared terribly fright
ened, dragging her companion with
her, made at once for the boat,
Y Brien and his mate following.
Scarcely allowing time for the Others
to get seated, she seized an oar, and
pushed off; then, drawing a knife
IRON her pocket, she cut the cable
winch attached it to the shore, and
the little craft went skimming over
the lake towards Owls Head, helped
by VIII 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 d.
rections. Men were rushing hither
and thither, shouting and gesticula-
ting. 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 GOO
too much OF start, and by the time
the pursuers were halfway across,
the pursued had reached the beach
at the foot of Owls Head, where,
leaving the boat, they hurriedly
made tor the woods. Gaining an ele-
vation, they saw the pursuing boats
reach the shore. Then there was
conference, which finally ended in
the men returning to their boats,
evidently satisfied that it would be
impossible 10 find the tugitives in the
almost lmpenetrable woods which
at that time surrounded the base OF
Owls Head.
After seeing the men return to the
island, Mary and her companions
considered what had best be done
next. There were very few buildings
IN the vicinity of the mountain at
that time, only few loggers' shan
ties, and 1t was decided to seek the
shelter Of one OF these till daylight
would permit them to find path
over the mountain. o Brien, who
seemed TO know the locality very
well, took them by an intricate path
to a clearing, where there was
deserted log-nouse. Here they made
themselves as comfortable as circum-
stances would permit, when O'Brlen
asked Mary 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 a mo
ment, hurrying TO the emlnence from
which they had watched their pur-
suers depart. All eyes were directed
towards the island. No lights were
visible now, but a sort OF vapor
seemed to float over 1t, almost en-
veloping it.
My God, the powder magazinep
CALCULATED Blake.
My father my father moaned
Mary. On come 10 him.
And starting forward again, she
darted towards the boat, the three
men following. AS the island was
approached strong smell OF gun
powder was noticed, but not
sound was heard. The oarsmen
rowed direct tor the opening OF Skin
ner's Cave. Drawing the boat up
the beach, Mary leaped out and
darted forward TO the opening of the
cave. But she had pot proceeded
many PAGES when she was brought
TO a sudden halt. There was no
opening. At the end of the cave
appeared huge rock, while scatter
ed IN all directions were pieces of
splintered granite that had evidently
been recently deposited there. Both
Mary and Blake, after valnly trying
10 ind the opening, returned to the
boat and rowed round to the side OF
the island, where there was another
landing place.
Both appeared thoroughly ac-
quainted with every part OF the
island, and selecting one OF two
paths that came down to the beach,
they darted up 1t, and soon reached
the crest OF a mll, From there they
looked eagerly around, but nothing
but d sCeue Ut desOla ton rewarded
their gaze. The whole place looked
as II 1t had been recently shaken by
some vlOIant upheaval, Trees were
upruoted and great rocks were over
turned III all directions. Valuly
Mary and Blake, assisted by O'Brteu
and his companion, searched for
traces OF Skinner and his crew.
Vanly the TWO first sought what TO
them were familiar landmarks.
Seeing that II was useless to re-
mann longer on the island, the tour
Determined to row to Skinner ;
house, in the hope OF finding some OF
the smuggIers there. But on their
arrival the house was found just as
O'Brien had lett 1t. AS soon as 1t
was light the whole party returned
to Skinner's Island, but their further
search revealed nothing Of a start
ling nature. There were certainly
many pieces OF boards, broken bar
rels, and fragments OF bales strewn
in all directions, but no trace OF
human being. The whole party
were forced to the opinion that the