Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1902-04-10
The Hole in
the Cliff ~ {.
By T. c. HARBAUGH.

TN THE warm summer sunshine that
frightened very humble-looking
Cornish home a ruddy-faeed boy Of
Is sat overhauling bird-hunter's
rope So intent was he with his work
that he did not notice the addressed
figure that slouched down the mar
row road toward him, and paused
at last a few feet away to watch him
with a pair of jealous eyes.
Intending your rope, are you?" sud
denly asked the man.
The boy looked up and for the first
time saw the evil-looking speaker
"Yes, Sid, I'm strengthening few
strands" answered the ropemaker.
"The sharp rocks cut, you know, and
one wants everything safe when he
goes down"
There's something better than egg
hunting in the wind just now" said
Sid Sloper, the ragged fellow.
what is it?"
They've just posted a reward for
information that will lead to the de-
lection Of the smugglers. Three hun
dred pounds amt TO be picked up ev-
cry day, boy, and it's better than go
ing down over the cliffs after gulls'
eggs"
The Cornish youth, who was ac-
counted the most successful egg hunt
er along the coast, made no reply,
but dropped his eyes to his work and
did not look up again for few mo-
ments.
When he raised his eyes, Sid Sloper
was gone, and he thought he saw the
ragged mans retreating figure van
ish down the road, but was not sure.
"Egg-hunting is profitable enough
for me-" thought the boy, "but /
would not mind earning the 1900.
Sid Sloper's word is to be taken with
good deal Of allowance, though the
coast guard is very anxious to catch
the smugglers, and the reward may
be out"
The village mentioned by Sloper,
the vagabondish Cornishman, was sit
uated good mile from the coast. 1t
was farther away than the home Of
Brant Burton, the young egg-hunter,
and as the boy had not been there
for some days, he did not altogether
disbelieye the mans statement about
the reward
The sun was hanging very low in
the west, when, provided with a bas-
ket and a rope, he set out for the
Cornish cliffs. He had discovered a
hole right above q narrow ledge Of
rock which promised good results.
and the number of birds that whirled
about the place tempted the boy as
he had not been tempted before of
late.
There existed among the egg-hunt-
ers of Cornwall most intense iea1-
ousy. They would watch one another
like paid spies, and some even went
so far as TO cut the ropes hanging
over the cliffs. leaving the poor bird
hester i'm terrible predicament.
HraHt Burton, the gull-huutrr. had
resolved 10 investigate the opepipg
in the cliff about shutdown when tbcre
was net SCI much danger of his being
seen; and when bee reached the sdge
of the wall the sun was disappearina
a ball of fire, beneath the waves ~
the channel.
Paying out his rope. Ire mad. one
end fast to Jagged rock near the
brink of the eliT and with hts has
ket strapped 20 his back. swupg him
self over the wall.
IL was not his first descent ON .
similar mission. lie always kepf .
cool head and steady hands on spcb
occasions, for beneath him. hundreds
Of feet sometimes. boiled the wbirf.
pools Of the English channel
This time his good rope did not fail
him. for after a brisk descent he
stood ON o scanty ledge Of roel, win
the darkcning sky FAR above and tb.
wild waters below.
The hole in the elf was LARGO
enough 10 admit "a man. though II baE
not looked SO from his point Of OBJ
servation- To the Cornish how il
seemed more than a mere rendezvous
for gulIs.
All az once something fell pas. the
boy and the next moment 10 his bor- I
Tor us discovered that his rope lad
vanished!