Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1897-02-26

of canvas, had captured anu
b0und the keeper, wrestling fom
him Al the same time the gr"at
iron key OF the lighthouse.
These men, tor the sake of the
booty cas-: mp by the hungry.
merclleSS waves, intended TO sacTl
fct hundreds Of human lives.
A thrill of horror ran through
the boys frame as he thought OF
the enormlly of the crime that
these men were about to commit.
A cold persp iraticn broke over his
brow, and he trent bled like leaf.
He cIouched down in sheI
shadows under the window.Sill,
and in few seconds had regalned
his presence of mind. His father
WAS helpless. 1t was his duty toI
act-to outwit these men-to save
hundreds of lives now at the
mercy OF the wreckers.
Hale had not long to walt. Two
men were left to guard the pros
trate ,rm of old Samuel Johnstone,
while two others cautiously left,
cottage, aud ran swiftly toward
the lighthouse.
Tue key turned the lock, and
both followed the The next
instant Hale had followed them.
The storm was raging hercely.
At intervals lightning quiyered
through the sky, and rolling
thunder seemed to shake The very
battlements of heaven. The WIND
howled ike e savage monster 10
search of prey, and huug foam
crested waves upon the beach, like
packs OF yelpipg wolves whose
white fangs gllttered through the
darkness.
Hale quickly removed his shoes
as he gained the entrance of the
light house. The door was left
open. He listened. Both men
ascended the stairs. The boys
heart beat with great thnmpS
against his side as he felt for the
key.
If he could secure it, 1t would be
easy to lock the wre ckers out
when they came Town, and then to
repair what damage they might
have done to the lamp. But, alas,
they key was gone!
For an instant Hale WAS con-
fused and disappointed, but 1t
was not long before he had con-
trived another plan which he de-
termined to put into execution,
At all hazards he would follow
the wreckers to the top of the
lighthouse,
Trusting to his perfect knowled
ge of every nook and Granny III
the premises, Hale, with the
steslthv motion of cat, assembled
the steep, narrow, winding stairs
For tbs first time III his exper'
fence they creaked beneath his
weight.
Up, up he went, every slight
nolse sending a thrill OF terror
2 through bic frame; up past loop
holes, which now admitted no
E spgle ray Of light; up, until the
P second last round was nearly com
pleted and then hs stopped.
9 What was it that made him
f uhiyer as though afflicted with
e aguei-What caused him TO crouch
: down In the inky darkn ness, scarce
@ ly three feet from the bOttO u OF
= the last, rickety flight of stairs1
t He held his breath and listened
| Despite the fearful roar OF the
|. tempest without, Hale distinctly
2 heard the low murmur of voices,
G aud the loud echOing sound of
descending footsteps.
e He recognized the .wreckers
G One was an Indian, the Othel
a Giles Parker, a white man ant
d both suspicious and dangerous
IS characters.
d Ugh! exclaimed the former, al
d he paused on the last step: M'
3 hear um noise! 'Sh?
The sharp. cared Indian had de
= tee ed tue almost suppressed
" breathing OF Hale. The brave DO.
e never moved a muscle, but th'
n beating of his heart was palnlu
iu that fearful moment.
'r Two steps to one side, and eith
Il, ar one of the men would hav
a trampled upon him where he lay.
ne Would they make a searchi-
y, Would they strike a hghtf
e, Go on you cowardl SAID Pdrkt
Vt. iupatiently. There amt no hums
f. belu' bot them IN the cottsi
le within miles of us. GO on te
'. your 80 -,