Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1896-07-20

as he reflected that perhaps the I'M
scrupulous smugglers would Kill his
companion, on the ground that dead
men-and boys-tell no tales. Some
of them looked so fierce and gestlcu-
lated so wildly that he was sure they
must be advocating the most eX-
treme 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 himself
upon the desperadoes in his compan-
ions defense? That would be utter
foolishness-one weak boy against
half dozen brawny men. All? A
thought like an inspiration flashed
over him-the giant fire crackers!
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 few yards.
S-z-z-z went the fuses! How the
/
sparks begun to fly out. Suddenly
tremendous report ran through the
silent ravine, waking thunderous
echoes among the rocks. Then fol-
lowed another, and another, and then
perfact volley of reports, till it
seemed as if the very cliffs would
| split with the echoes.
| AS the loud reports began to ring
| through the glen the smugglers,
| thinking that whole detachment of
Uncle Sans revenue officers must be
upon them, fed in the widest confu
sion. Alec was left standing alone,
with hands bound, near the scattered
embers of the campfire. Judge of his
establishment and delight when Tom
bounded into sight, exclaiming:
"Hurrah for the giant firecrackers!
They did the business that time and
no mistake!" 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 con-
vulsively every now and then in spite
of their haste and terror at the spec
tacle presented by the six stalwart
men fleeing from a bunch of fire.
crackers.
There was no more thought of
climbing old Baldtop that day. The
boys fastened back to the village,
and soon the story of the smugglers
was in everybody's mouth. Sheriff
Smith got together posse of men,
armed with guns and revolvers, in
side of an hour, and guided by the
boys they made quick time for the
Notch.
Meanwhile the smugglers, finding
that they had fed on a false alarm,
had returned to their camp and were
hastily packing up their contraband
goods, knowing that their escaped
captive would surely give the alarm
as soon as possible. But Sheriff Smith
was shrewd man and understood
both the lay of the land and the prob
able tactics of the smugglers. So, in
stead 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
expected, attempted to escape from
the Notch as they had entered it, little
expecting to meet their pursuers in
that direction. But as they were hur-
rying out of the narrow deGle, in
numbered by their packs, five men
suddenly started up from behind as
many powders and presented their
cooked guns at the fugitives' heads.
"Surrender,'' cried the sheriff, cor
you are all dead men!"
"Every pack was dropped to the
ground, and up went six pairs of
hands. It was a complete surprise
and bloodless capture. The SNUG
glers were 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 fire.
crackers.
ssBy the way" said Sheriff Smith to
Tom and Alec a few days later,
ssthere was a handsome reward Of
fered for the capture Of those rascals.
Did you know it, boys?o
ssNo!" exclaimed the boys. "Who
do you suppose will get it?"
ssYou will,o replied the sheriff with
twinkle in his eye, sprovided you'll