Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1901-06-01
The SmuggIers' Gave.
Ey Miss Elizabeth Robertson.
~ ! on must not think of cx'
~ nlnring INn cNNe Mhile the

az /ou must not think of ex'
" pluring the cave while the
high tides last" said Ger
aldinc, firmly, as she tied
her hat securely beneath her chin
"Rcmcmbcr we do not know the
coast; people who have lived here all
their lives say they never saw such
high tides before III the Caribbees.'
"Girls are such cowards,' muttcrcd
ten year old Lester, sullenly. I'VE are
not afraid, are we, Keith"
Keith was only eight, ana accus.
toned to look up to his daring cousin
In all things, so he answered loftily:
"Of course not. We want to play
we are smugglers, and If the cave
was safe for them 1t is for us. Gerry
don't know anything about it,
Gerry saw that her brother was in
one Of his pcrverse moods, and for
moment felt tempted to take Keith
with her to the store. His mother
had left him in her charge, and she
felt the responsibility kcenly. But one
glance at the lowering sky convinced
her that she had better leave him be-
hind since he already had severe
cold. SO bidding them both be good
boys, and not stir out OF the house
until she returned, she left them to
their own devices.
The high cliffs Of Tobago looked
darl. and lonely under the leadcn skies;
white, curling waves were leaping up
against them, and heaps of froth lay
on their sheer sides. Gerry could
hardly stand against the wind, and
made slow progress toward tie vii
lage.
The trip was accomplished at last.
however, and she set out for home in
haste. She hoped Lester would heed
her warning, but he was SO wilful it
was not easy TO tell what wild thing
he might do. He seemed to think it
perfectly safe for him to venture on
the cliffs at any time, though in stormy
weather even the old natives OF the
island gave them wide berth.
The Ruthven family We're wlntering
in Tobago, and on the present occa-
sion, Gcrrys father and mother had
gone on short cruise TO the Grena-
dimes, accompanied by Keith's parents.
Mr.. and Mrs. Danton. who owned
yacht. Their return had been looked
for fore this; but the recent heavy
storms had delayed them. Gerry
wished they would hurry back, for the
two restless boys We're becoming un-
nnagCNhic.
As she traycrscd the cliff road. size
saw below her the tide sweeping in,
and the great. foalny waves leaping
up in spleIdor to break to pie ces in the
abyss. The sky was as gray as the
sea; and not Il living thing was in
sight save 4 lonely sea gull Swimming
above the surge.
There stood the little cottage beyond.
looking warm ana cosy, with CLEAN
OF freight shining through one OF the
windows. Gerry was glad to reach
1t and thrust her face inside the door,
thinking to surprise the boys, but was
herself surprised TO find thc room de-
serted. She east Il startled glance ut
the hat.racls in the hall. Yes, their
hats and coats were MISSING They
had disobeyed and gone out in the
wind. She had seen so sign of them
along the ciffs-could Lester have been
glers' cave after all?
The hands of the little clock on the
mantel pointed to the hour of five.
She had been absent an hour and
half. In another minute she was out
In the open air and hurryinS along
the cliffs as fast as she was able.
There was nothing in sight; the whole
shore was empty over the long, dreary
eXpanse, terror drove the color from
check and lip. For the tide was ris-
Ing. and il the boys Were in the cave
they were in great peril, with the wind
dashinS the waves SO high along the
cliffs.
She dared not wait to alarm any of
the neighbors-their dwellings stood at
too great a distance. She must at
tempt the rescue alone: and with
winged feet she sped in the direction
Of the cave. The wind hulTetcd her
rudely; several times she was forced
to pause to take breath She called
the children loudly, but wind and sea
drowned her voice.
Breathless and faint with terror. she
reached the cave; masses of Shiny sea.
weed lay hcaped at the entrance but
she pushed it aside.
"Lester-Keith" she cried. and
heard her wild shrek echoed back
from the damp walls.
To her JOY two voices answered:
Here we are. Gerry-come on.
We're having such larks. We are
smugglers, You know and these shells
are our treasures and oh. what's the
natter"
For Gerry had caught each by the
hand, and for moment was unable
to utter a sound.
Come she managed to say, ut
lasi there Is not n moment to lose"
She drew them along toward the en-.
trance; when they reached it, Keith
uttered a cry of fear. "Oh. the sea.
We can't 90 through Ill that foam-
We shall be drowned.'
He shrank back, Juggling ut Gerry's
hand, and feeling Of despair came
over her TO wade out through the
water was their only chance. Must
they go back in the cave and wait
while the tide crept higher and higher,
until it drowned them like rats in a
trap? 1t was long cave, and it
might be there was some ledge or