Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1902-02-20

| 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 less of his rope had taken
his mind from everything else.
When he did turn into the dark
place and struck q match along the
rough wall, a nest astonishing dis.
covery rewarded him. He seemed ia
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.
II the Cornish boy had found the
smuSglers' 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 smugRlers, 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 a large reward. No
person had dreamed that it had ex-
isted In that vicinity, and the interior
OF the cavern in the cliff told the boy
that 1t had been used for evil pur-
poses n long time.
After awhile the moon came up and
s.lyered the rolling waves of the chan.
mel Its light fell against the foot
of the clifF, and showed the boy at
intervals the soant pathway between
the sea ard the rock.
Armed with coil OF rope which
he had found among the smupglers'
goods, he leaned over the ledge and
tried to measure the distance between
him and the water. It 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 posses
sion Of his heart
lie 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 hay-
ing heard a coast guardsman say that
certain kind of lace was being
smuggled into Cornwall, and he be-
lieved he had found 1t.
When all was ready, the young gull
hunter again trusted his fortunes To
swaying rope-this time to one he
hau 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.
lie shuddsred when he thought that
he would have to follow the narrow
path for more than a mile before
there was break In the cliffs. but
he nerved himself for the task and
started off.
II proved to be the most perilous
Journey of his life. All the way ne
was compelled to hug the wall OF
rock, with the roaring surf leapinp
at him. More than once he wns
caught, and barely saved himself bv
eiinging 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 bri.f
rest, he ran to the village and told
his story to the constable of the coast
guard. 1t was hard to believe. bur
his hands and the lace were proof
enough.
That night half a dozen men went
Gown 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.
SD SIoper had no idea when he cut
The Cornish boys rope that he was en-.
riehing Brant with 300. and when
he found that his young rival Mad
escaped he left the country before
the law could deal with him, md the
village is not sorry that he has never
returned.-Golden Days.