Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1902-02-20
The Hole in
the Cliff ~ ~
BY 7. c. HARBAU0H.


TN THE warm summer sunshine that
frightened a very humble-looking
Cornish home n ruddy-fnced boy OF
10 sat overhauling u 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 few feet away to watch him
with pair of jealous eyes.
"Mending your rope, are you?" sud
denly asked the man.
The boy looked up and for the first
time saw the evil-looking speaker.
"ies, Sid, I'm strengthening a 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 it2"
They've just posted 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 guls'
eggs"
The Cornish youth, who was 40
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 a few mo-
ments
When he raised his eyes, Sid Sloper
was gone, and he thought he saw the
ragged mans retreating figure van
,Sh down the road, but was not sure.
"Egg-hunting is profitable enough
Tor me-" thought the boy, but |
would not mind earning the $500.
Sid Sloper's word is to be taken with
a 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 Cornishmau, was sit
uated good mile from the coast IL
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 has.
ket and rope. he set out for the
Cornish cliffs. lie had discovered A
hole right above a 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 zeal.
ousy. They would watch one another
like paid spies, and some even went
so far as 10 cut the ropes hanging
over the cliffs, leaving the poor bird
hester in a terrible prcdicament.
brant Burton, the gu,l-hunter, had
resolved to investigate the opening
in the clin about sundown when there
was not so much danger of his being
secn' and when he reached the edge
OF the wall the sun was disappearing
a ball Of Are, beneath the waves OF
the channel.
faying out his rope, he made one
end fast TO Jagged rock near the
brink Of the cliff. and with his has
kei strapped TO his back. swung him
self over the wall
IL was not his first descent on a
similar mission. lie always kent a
cool head and steady hands on such
occasions, for beneath him. hundreds
OF feet sometimes, boiled she whirl.
pools OF the English channel.
This time his good rope did not fail
him, for aitor brisk descent n.
stood ON scanty ledge Of rock with
the darkening sky far above and the
Wild waters below.
The hole in the cliH was lary.
enough to admit a man, though II had
not looked SO from his point of oh
scr'Ntion. To the Cornish boy n
seemed more than a mere rendezvous
Tor guls.
All at once something iel past the
Toy, and the next moment 10 his hor.
ror he discovered that his rope had
lAQlahell A.S.A-->~------