The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1895-04-20

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door. hut so carefully was il disguised
that it might easily have been passed
over in a cursory examination. This
door was rot locked. When it was open.
ed, it let in a strong culrent of air.
Passing through this door, the two
men saw stretching before them 4 long
narrow passage. barely broad enough to
permit them to walk abreast and scarce
high enough to permit them to walk
upright. They proceeded cautiously,
each with n revolver in his hand, and
holding q lantern in the other. There was
nothing to lE;pede their progress, and
although ~" passage was Il somewhat
winding u.,s il appeared of uniform
height aid width.
They had been walking, they calcu-
lated. for about five minutes, when they
fel5 n great improvement i'll the atnos
plIere, whiclI had been musty. Soon they
saw Il flicker OF light, which gradually
grew larger and larger, until they came
to IN opening. Emerging from this, they
glanced hurriedly around. At their feet
lay the waters Of Lake Memphremagoy,
with Il tiny rowboat floating peacefully
on the surface. Turning, they glanced
at the entrance from which they had
emerged, but could not at first discover
it, as they had advanced two or three
steps forward toward the beach. Retrac-
ing their steps, they found that the open
ing was formed by two vast powders.
but whethor tliey Lad been placed there
f1 W hafl.,. s1,,,, 49,, ~, ~, xy-acI- - ~,
tire they conld hot determine. How
ever, they We're placed in such a posi-
ton that tie opening could not be seen
from the lake. aud there was apparent
y III place where anybody could land
except at tho little coyo where lay tie
rOWhoat.
''All this time not a person had they
seen. What was next to be done: That
wa the question that the two men whis-
peringly discussed for q few moments.
But they appeared to be of IL mind,
and having come 50 far neither of them
was inclined to turn back without sec
ing the end of the adventure. They
therefore decided to take the boat and
~reconnoiter. But here another surprise
awaited them. Taking one Of the oars
from the bottom of the boat, O'Brien
attempted to push it off, but instead of
going out III a straight line the boat
shot off ~obliqEely, rounded a rock and
then seemed to float along without any
means of propulsion. The men were nat
uraily astoIished, but they soon made
tho discovery that the boat was attached
to q cable and was being drawn rapid
~ through the water. Where were they
going2 peeringi il. the direction in whicl.
t.le ..oat Was proceeding, they saw a
short distance ahead of them a large is
land flooded by the moonlight. Several
lights were fitting about, and it ap-
peared that there was somewhat of Il
commotion. The boat rushed through
the water as though propelled by steam,
slight waves occasionally washing over
the sides. Nearer and nearer the island
they approached, and now they were
able to distinguish two figures standing
on the shore. These figures appeared to
be watching the boat with interest. At
the same time they We're evidently haul
ing on the line that was drawing the
"a al hAik ~ " GuCL1.
~"S1ddenly the men in the boat expe-
rienced a rapid jerk that almost threw
them into the water. The persons on
shore had evidently just discovered that
tho boat was occupied and had immedi-
ately slackened 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 two persons were then stand
ing in the same position, and as the row
ers approached they were surprised to
see that n Of the watchers was a 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 Skinncr's
cave.
But tho cav 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'Brien ap-
preached the pair and asked what they
were doing there. The girl, who seemed
much terrified, approached O'Brien and
said III a supplicating 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 delay. Let us so. I will tell you
LATER ON