Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1896-07-11

h-s@A@AN
looked so fierce and gesticulated SO
wildly that he was sure they must be
advocating the most extreme measures
What could he do to save his friend?
Return to the village and summon help?
All, mol Help would only arrive too
late. Should he rush out and fling him.
self upon the desperadoes in his COM
panion's defense? That would be utter
foolishness-one weak boy against a
half dozen brawny men. Ali A thought
like an inspiration flashed over him
the giant firecrackersl
Cautiously he ranged them side by
side on top of the rock. There were
eight of the big cylinders in all Then
he lighted the fuses, one after another,
and, sliding down into the path, ran
back for a few yards.
S-z-z-z went the fusesl How the boys
heart throbbed as the powder sparks be-
gan to fly ont Suddenly tremendous
report rang through the silent ravine,
waking thunderous echoes among the
rocks. Then followed another, and an
other, and then perfect volley Of re
ports, till it seemed as if the very cliffs
would split with the echoes
As the loud reports began to ring
through the glen the slnugglers, think
ing that whole detachment of Uncle
Sans revenue officers must be upon
them, fled in the widest confusion.
Alec was left standing alone, with
hands bound, near the scattered embers
of the campfire. Judge of his astonish-
ment and delight when Tom bounded
into sight, exclaiming:
''Hurrah for the giant firecrackersl
They did the business that time and no
mistakei' With quick slashes Of his
knife Tom cut the cords which bound
Alec's arms, and then the two boys fed
back in the direction from which they
had come, laughing convulsively every
now and then i'll spite Of their haste and
terror at the spectacle presented by the
six stalwart men fleeing from bunch
of frecrackers
There was no more thought of climb
ing old Baldtop that day. The boys
fastened back to the village, and soon
the story of the smugglers was in every
body's mouth. Sheriff Smith got to-
gether posse Of men, armed with guns
and revolvers, inside of an hour, and
guided by the boys they made quick
time for the Notch.
Meanwhile the smugglers, finding
that they had fled ON false alarm, had
returned to their camp and We're hastily
packing up their contraband goods,
knowing that their escaped captive
would surely give the alarm as soon as
possible. But Sheriff Smith was a
shrewd man and understood both the
lay Of the land and the probable tactics
of the smugglers So, instead of taking
his entire force into the Notch. he sent
five men over the course taken by the
boys, and with the other four went
himself across a spur of the mountain
to the farther end Of the pass, thus
penning the smugglers in trap.
The smugglers, as the sheriff had ex-
pected, attempted to escape from the
Notch as they had entered it. little ex-
pecting to meet their pursuers in that
direction. But as they were hurrying
out of the narrow defile, ineumbered by
their packs, five men suddenly started
up from behind as many powders and
presented their cooked guns at the fugi-
tiyes' heads.
Surrender, - cried the sheriff, 'or
you are all dead menu
Every pack was dropped to the
ground, and up went six pairs of hands.
1t was complete surprise and blood
less capture. The smugglers We're
marched off to the county seat and
lodged in Jail that very night. And the
next day the city papers had column
accounts of the heroism of the boys
and the wonderful effects produced by
the eight giant firecrackers.
fBy the way, said Sheriff Smith to
Tom and Alec few days later There
was handsome reward offered for the
capture of those rascals. Did you know
it, boys?''
MOP exclaimed the boys. "Who do
you suppose will get it?"
fYou will, I" replied the sheriff, with
q twinkle in his eye, provided you'll
ride over to the county treasurer's with
me tomorrow and sign receipt for the
money. "-Philadelphia Press.