The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-08-09

! SEA EYGS [SSsSsNSsSS2
! Hauling up.
water swirling over them, and the pool
may be ten feet deep close in under
them. We mought.win over recht enoo
an again we mought na-ye ken''-
eyes, I ken," interrupted Sir Alan.
"We'll go round by the bridge, gentle
men. There's food in the river, it ap-
pears-a cheerful habit the Balmaquid-
der has when you least want it or ex-
pect it. :"
By the bridge accordingly we went,
and when I saw the brown water whirl-
ing down in swift eddies Twas thankful
that we had not attempted the stepping
stones.
It was evening and fast growing dark
when we reached the glen on our re-
turn, wet, tired and hungry, but thor
oughly satisfied with the days results.
We were stepping out briskly, for we
knew we were close to home, when q
big mountain hawk swooped right III
front of u.s. Jones, who had not drawn
the cartridge from his rife, let fly on
the instant, without remembering how
small was his chance with bullet at
quarry OH the wing. We were amusing
ourselves chatting Jones as the bird flew
off untouched when Colonel Eyre, who
was few steps to the rear, pulled up
short and raised his hand to signal for
silence.
We all heard :: then-a shrill,
lamentable voice ringing sharply from
the hillside. There was no mlstaking
the purport of that appeal-it was cry
for help. But the mist was beginning to
settle and the echo bafied as. For
moment we looked blankly at each 9th
er and around, not knowing whittier to
turn
Again the cry, "Help, help, help!'
with note Of agony in it that stirred
the blood like trumpet. "God guide
US. 'Tis at the foord above you, - cried
the gillie, and, tired as We were, nons
of us was far behind him when he
reached the stepping stones.
They were hidden by a mass OF swirl
ing, broken water, but just below them
lay the pool OF which the guide had
spoker-calm by comparison with the
ford, but agitated nevertheless with
swift current that flashed between steep
banks faced with granite-as ugly
place for an accident as might be found
in the whole length of the brawling
Balmaquidder.
And an accident had happened, plain
ly enough. On one Of the granite bowl
ders knelt Mrs. Everton, leaning back
with all her might against the drag of
plaid, one end of which she held,
while the other was lost in the black
shadows of the pool.
She heard our footsteps as we ran up,
bat did not turn her head. "Help,
help!'' she cried again. Il can't hold
on much longer, and he-oh''-
She broke Off with a sob, as strong
hands relieved her of the extemporized
lifeline, and Colonel Eyre, bending for
ward, peered down into the obscurity
of the pool. was one of those who had
grasped the shore end of the plaid, and
the strain told me that whoever was
below still maintained his grasp. "Can
YOU hold o. another moment?:'' asked
the colonel, then, without waiting for
a reply: "Cling close for dear life.
Now, boys. gently does it. A steady,
slow pull-no jerking And in another
moment the dripping, half senseless
form of Tom Everton was drawn out on
the bank, his drowning grip of the plaid
still unloosened, and laid beside the
fainting form of his wife.
1T was this way" Tom explained
some hours later, when we were all as
sembled for our usual smoking room
SYMPOSIUM. Il dare say was pretty
cross all day. thinking of the sport you
fellows were having and all Twas miss
ing, and toward evening my wife sug-
gested that we should walk out and try
to meet YOU. We kept along the river
up to the stepping stones. but the cross
ing there looked. SO bad that my wife
would not hear Of my attempting 1t. l
did rot think it SO very dangerous, but
dare say Id let her nave hel OWL
way
GAS you usually do interjected
Jones
-"wher all of sudden l heard
shot close by On the other side. Then
started over at once. I've been across
the ford a dozen times, but before L had
taken three steps found the stream
was too strong for me. tried to turn
back. but the current seemed to willrl
me right off my feet. went sliding
over the slippery stones, and IN two
seconds was soused we'll over my head
into the pool below and spinning round
{ like troll il brook. / tried to grasp
hold of something on the bank, but
that was the only notwithstanding