The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1905-02-04
DOWN In A THUNDERSTORM.

glers of Cape Zoar, you took your hte IN
your hands, and by reason thereof it seems
but just to deprive you of a thing held 50
lightly. But my men. not |, shall decide
what the penalty shall be for your fool
hardness Boys, what say you? Shall
life or death be the portion of this revenue
spy
''Death?' was the unanimous reply
from the grim-hpped. lowering faced men
gathered about the Young fellow, who
stood. with his arms bound, calmly facing
the smuggler chief.
Yet all the omiuous darkness of the
faces bent upon him could not force an ac-
cent of fear into the calm tones of the
Young revenue officer voice as he said
We'll. Chief Coram. should like to
know what you propose to do with me,
| for it is quite natural that should wish
| to be prepared to receive the grim stranger
to whom you are about 10 introduce me,
in whatever guise he may come.
The villagers of Blakeyille will find
/ you on the sands in the morning.
$50 you intend that the sea shah throt-
tie me-
| 'Ayr
/ so be it. | am in your power. and
you are able to work yoHr will as far a |
am concerned. May you sleep as soundly
a> ! tonight.
An involuntary exclamation broke from
one of the smuggiers-an exclamation of
admiration at beholdin. one face death 50
courageously, bus scowl from Chief Co
/ ram silencel him
MeOrnyille, Heweu. Burchsrl. lead
this man out into the night he said aud
I see to it. my men. that he does not bear
/ you company when you return,
Threc men started to fulfll their chief 5
murderous behest Two Of them took
/ firm bold of Corliss arms. and the third
/ lighted dark lantern and lei the way.
Two minutes aiterWard the four were
ou, 10 the night, which had set in very
+ dark. With high wind aud threatened rain.
I Surely it was a fitting night in shich to
/ hurl man down from towering Cape Z0ar
into the hungry max Of the sea, which
I ,hundered 3, its base. aud surely Caaries
f Corliss had reason to regTc, the day when,
E with his commission from the department
+ safely hidden on hi, person, be had started
/ forth alone to gain the al important clue
T "a the stronghold Of Chief CoFom. a snug
E girr. whose rrnawn extended along the
whole ooass
F I'oal of bead. strong Of nerve, Wi;h =
+ large frame and great strength. Chief
+ Coram career had been one ooutinaoas
round cf daring advtniar~ aul hair
breadth ESCAPES.
Hitherto he had chaekl,i nightly over
the many failures % sharp eyed officials to
T discover the spot he had selected fcg his
! rendezvous. But this beadicss STRIPPING, in
/ the character Of 1 bals iiio,sc fisherman.
/ had foclci him completely for time
I had sapped with him in his cunning re.
I treas among the r5Sks had marked the
almost impeTceptihle eutrane. ,o the little
4 deep basin that cralls~i 50 ~scarely his
suilt and sharp -sscmued SEait--a thing
. lAas hd herself in shr elements that
+ haunted the hosiz0u aol mingled wilh the
,ints Of rvcaiug-a niyhl bird Il the
Z water
When. therefore. shc disguise q the
I ,oung revenue oiaccr va> torn irum him
the natural yindictiyeacss of the smuggief
aa, Augmented by a aamtug wrath because
+ 81 being ~ cuunlngly trlckei. and he had
assigned terrible fate to hts prisoner with
a. li,ile mercy a, one wouli place hi. ioos
on a serpent head
but the nan who hsi hszarlei hl- h,e
ia the disehxr-e of hr duty vas Hol "uc
70 gave IL up without struggle.
\ seemingly ornamental buckle wss uB
the hack of the belt which ziF,icd rorliss' :
waist but IL csIg,~ werc sharp A. rarnrs.
Acres une Of these edge, he stretched hts
hempvu bou.ls Strand after stand snapped
in twain. ani At last h.s hands Was freed.
Then he turc bis arms looee, dealt couple
&C powerful blow- which iellsl his noUlj-
be cxceuiioneTs tot he ground and thea
hel away in the darkness.
Of course be was parsue,I by the snug
gley who acted Is guide bus he cared little
for that. a. he found !, to!crably easy run
ming
He had acquired, Ike mo.t meu Who
live much ia the dark that cat-hke per.
cep,ion q obstacles which i due rather ia
increased sensitiyene,, Of touch than OF
VISION
His feet accommodated themselves rr
the Inequalities # the ground; his hands
ins,inctiyely ou,Stretcbed themselves to,
ward the oyerhanging bonghs, his head
ducked Of its own accord to any oatusive
saphne which bent To obslruct bis pro
gress But his pursuer was nos 50 fortu
nate.
Thrice did the young revenue ofhcel
laugh mentally at a crash aud scrambl,
that told Of fall At last. on reaching
little rise, Corliss doubled his efforts
trusting TO his superior muscular energy t,
shake of his pursuer He breasted III,
rise and paused TO listen. He seemed {,
be alone
He was at the edge of.the cliffs Of Cap,
Zoar. Below him lay the sea Out o
the black emptiness came puffs Of sharp
salt wind The tops Of the rollers tha
broke below we're blown of. and whirlee
away into the night-white patches swal
lowed up Immediately in the increasing
darkness. At his feet arose a frightfu
shrieking and whistling, broken at interval
by reports like claps Of thunder Wha
could it be?
All at once, on the track over which h,
had passed, he heard a sound that chilled
the blood about his heart-the bay of dog
The whole smuggler force was ON his track
The dog, crashing through the under
brush, gave one short, sharp howl, anC
ran mute. And Corliss stood for mo
ment chained to the spot,
The shrieking which C,rliss had hearC
but a moment ago had ceased, but ever,
now and then dull but immense shocks, a
n i Il. Il