The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-06-11

n
other Proof That tho Race Is Not Al
ways to the Swift.
The boundary limo between the United
States and Canada has been tho scene of
no end Of exciting adventures, because
the desire to cheat our Uncle Samuel
out of his lawful tariff dues Is some
thing that seems to be deeply rooted in
tho human breast. There are professional
smugglers. but the larger per cent, T
imagine, arc those who, being on the
Canadian side Of the line and finding
goods very cheap, cannot resist tho temp
tation to try to get them across
Between Maine and the British ,,os-
sessions Is an enormously long stretch Of
boundary line. and patrolling it Is en-
tirely out Of the question, but still, with
all their slips the customs officers do oc-
casionally get hold of clew and run 1t
to tho ground-sOmetimes with results
that are not so pleasant This was the
case with the officer whose story am
about to tell At just what part Of Un-
Gle Sans farm line it occurred need not
DO told The story starts upon the Ca
madam side at II secluded spot in the
woods, where man, q horse sled with
All enormously big box upon it, q good
horse and trunk filled with valuable
articles make q break for the American
side Of the line In some way nh officer
has got wind of the attempted snug
CLING, and with still better horse he
starts at full speed after the mysterious
trunk and the driver of the horse sled.
1t was not until some distance across
the line upon the American side that the
driver Of the horse sled discovered that
he was pursued.
Far back on distant hill he saw O
team coming at full speed, and knew
its meaning. He got up steam on his
own craft Immediately, and the old sled
slid into and out of "thank ye marms"
in q way to make ones hair rise, but
the driver knew very we'll that he could
not escape being overtaken He only do
sired to get over the next hilltop and
out of sight for moment When over
the brow of the hill, no suddenly pulled
up, took the trunk up in his arms,
climbed on top Of the enormous box on
the sled, and holding the trunk as high
Us he could over tho side dropped it in
to big snowdrift, where it sank COM
plctcly out of sight. Then the race be-
gan again
Back at the summit of the last hill
appeared the customs officer in hot pur-
suit and now he yelled to the man
ahead to stop, but that individual ap-
peared singularly deaf and in n great
hurry q = 1rn1l l-oyf l. .,
speed, and looked neither TO tho right
nor left
A half mile more and the officer had
drawn up close bc'.ind, when pretense
of not hearing his profane calls could
no longer be made. The driver Of the
sled gazed backward over his shoulder,
and then, i'll apparently great surprise,
he pulled up-so suddenly that the off,
GERS foaming horse nearly plunged
head foremost into the big box
Wha-wha- what d 'ye want?" drawled
the man ahead
The reply of the officer is totally un-
suited for publication. 81 sw 'nr to ye,
l hain't got thing here" said the
driver Of the horse sled.
'"Then I should like to know what in
hades you were trying to get away from
me for. :" said the officer.
Cit away from yep said the other.
ivy, gosh mighty! got ter git home
n milk eight caows afore dark, so
hain't got no time ter be a-loafin ON the
road
We'll, you just haul up, replied the
collector Of Uncle Sans duties, land
I'll have look. I know we'll enough
just what you'v got there. -
Tell ye / hain't got thing here but
this old sled II box, protested the 9TH
er; but the more he protested the more
certain became his pursuer that he had
contraband goods concealed in the big
box, the only opening to which was O
little door at the end, the normal use Of
the box being for the conveyance of live
pigs
The two teams came to standstill
and the officer got out and investigated
the turnout ahead He opened the little
door In the rear and looked in With his
eyes blinded by the glare Of the bright
snow, he could see nothing but Stygian
blacknesa He looked aboutfor pole or
stick with which to probo the inky in
terror. Stone walls were beside the road
and nothing else.
The suppressor Of smuggling was
man Of action. There was nothing else
to do, SO he would crawl in tho box and
explore the interior He did SO, when,
quick as flash, the door flew to. the
button turned. and the horse in front Of
the old sled broke into run that threat
ened demolition to the whole outfit.
Over the uneven read went the team ut
the top of its speed. the Sled swayinR
fearfully and jumping into the air ut ev-