Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1902-01-06
For ! moment he stood paraiyred

edge of the ledge and looked up. He
could not catch a glimpse of dang
Ting cord of any kind, and a hundred
feet below the white waves of the
channel dashed against the foot of
the wall.
His situation was terrible.
IF this is your work. Sid Sloper.
may Heaven forgive you!" exclaimed
the young egg-hunter. i've caught
you following me before now. for you
don't want anybody to make a few
shillings but yourself"
As far as his vision could reach,
Brant Burton saw nothing but the
tumbling white caps of the ocean.
The sun had gone dows, and the sur
face of the water was fast losing
its brilliant hues in the shadows of
descending night.
The roar of the breakers came up
to the boy on the narrow rock and
filed his heart with terror. A few
late gulls whirled before his eyes, as
if to mock his fieeting hopes, and
darkness came down over the scene.
The young egg-hunter of Cornwall
was terribly imprisoned.
1t was some time before he VEN
tured to investigate the hole in the
cliff. The loss of his rope had taken
his mind from everything else.
When he did turn into the dark
place and struck a match along the
rough wall, most astonishing dis
covery rewarded him. He seemed to
have been suddenly transported into
veritable smugglers' paradise.
On every side were the fruits of
many nights foray along the coast
boxes containing silks and laces.
and contraband merchandise of every
description.
The cave was provided with natural
shelves, which were stored with
goods, and costly furniture existed
everywhere in profusion.
If the Cornish boy had found the
smugglers' cave with his good rope
waiting for him over the cliff, he
would have rejoiced, but he was i'm
prisoned where his life was in immi-
nent danger.
A return of the smugglers, luckily
for the young hunter at that time alb
sent, would pretty soon put an end
to his career of cliff-climbing, and the
little home behind the waters would
never know his fate.
Brant Burton had no doubt that he
had discovered the cave of the very
men for whose detection the govern
ment had offered large reward. No
person had dreamed that it had ex-
listed in that vicinity, and the interior
of the cavern in the cliff told the boy
that it had been used for evil pur-
poses long time.
After awhile the moon came ND and
silvered the rolling waves of the chan
mel. It's light fell against the foot
of the cliff, and showed the boy at
intervals the scant pathway between
the sea and the rock.
Armed with a coil of rope which
he had found among the smugglers'
goods, he leaned over the ledge and
tried to measure the distance between
him and the water. 1t was uncertain
work in the moonlight, but he did
the best he could.
There was but one hope of escape,
and that lay along the foot of the
cliff, which was slippery and washed
by the tide.
The Cornish boy dropped the rope
and saw it reach the rocks below.
A thrill of exultation took possess
sion of his heart.
He fastened the other end of the
rope to an iron staple in the cavern,
and thrust into his bosom a piece of
peculiar lace which he took from one
of the boxes. He remembered hav-
ing heard a coast guardsman say that
certain kind of lace was being
struggled into Cornwall, and he be-
lieved he had found it.
When all was ready, the young gull
hunter again trusted his fortunes to
swaying rope-this time to one he
had never before tested.
The following moment he was
swinging between the cliff and the
sea, going down hand over hand to-
ward the surging tide.
When he touched the rocks beneath.
he was forced to hug the wall. for
the waves were at his very feet.
He shuddered when he thought that
he would have to follow the narrow
path for more than a mile before
there was a break in the cliffs. but
he nerved himself for the task and
started off.
1t proved to be the most perilous
journey of his life. All the way he
was compelled to hug the wall of
rock, with the roaring surf leaping
at him. More than once he was
caught, and barely saved himself bv
clinging to rocks that cut like knives.
At last Brant Burton reached the
break. in the Cornish wall. 1t was to
him gate of safety.
Springing forward, after a brief
rest, he ran to the village and told
mis- story to the constable of the coast
guard 1t was hard to believe. but
his hands and the lace were proof
enough.
That night half a dozen men went
down over the cliff to the smugglers,
cave, and when the thieves came back
with more booty, every one fell into
the hands of the law.
Sid Sloper had no idea when he cut
the Cornish boys rope that he was en-
riching Brant with G 300, and when
he found that his young rival had
escaped, he left the country before
the law could deal with hin, al a. :