A MORASS ADVENTURE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 101, 15 January 1870, Page 7

A MORASS ADVENTURE.

(From "Chambers' Journal.") In the latter part of last summer, a scanty purse led me, in company with some relatives, to spend my holidays at a little village on the Welsh coast, out of the ordinary beat of tourists, but otherwise remarkable for nothing but its general air of bleakness and sterility. The place was very quiet, and tho lodgings very cheap, and tolerably comfortable. These essentials being secured, we had to put up with the scenery, which was not very attractive. A long low lino of beach, surmounted by a high pebble ridge, leading on the one hand to the foot of some bold jutting cliffs, and on the other losing itself in an estuary ; behind this, a black and dreary-looking bog, stretching three or four miles inland, and intersected in every direction by wide, artificial ditches, and deep, natural fissures connecting the inky pools. A small river flowing into the estuary divides the bog, its course being marked by mounds of peat, cut from the firmer ground which forms its banks. Branching out at right angles to the river ai*e other lines of pcatstacks, following the course of the larger drains, which herald the attempt to cultivate the dreary waste. This was the view 1 beheld, as, standing one evening on the top of the stony ridge, I faced eastward. The sinking sun threw my shadow far over the bog, distinctly seen as it fell over the gilded rushes and the crimsoning pools. I had been strolling out with my gun, in the hope of adding some specimens to my cabinet, and was thinking of returning homewards, when a longlegged heron slowly sailed high overhead, in the direction of the river. I watched the bird till it alighted near one of the peat-stacks, and carefully noting the spot, I proceeded to a careful stalk, hoping to secure an acquisition. I contrived to get within seventy yai'ds of the heron, and as there was no cover o. L any kind nearer, I lay down behind the last mound I had reached, and with finger on the trigger watched patiently, in the hops that tny quarry would feed towards me. I was not disappointed ; it gradually approached some yards nearer my hidingplace, and then either caught sight or scent of me, for it suddenly rose, but in so doing came within range. Bans; ! went both barrels. Uttering a hoarse croak, the heron flew heav ly away, keeping close to the ground, and evidently hard hit. I sprang up and followed, jumping the ditches, and avoiding the soft ground as best I cojid. During one particularly long jump, I lost sight of the heron for a moment ; I caught siq;ht of it again just in time to see it fall to the earth as softly as a and lie still with wings outspread to their full stretch. Between the bird and me, however, there was a crevice wider than any I had yet leaped, and a dozen yards on the other side lay the object of my pursuit. The black slimy sides of the ditch overlun'j; tho water, which lay deep, and still some six or seven feet below, and a few yards to the ri^ht connected with a large pool, having equally high and muddy banks. To tho left was a labyrinth of similar ditches. Some ditches in front, a broader and straighter crack in the flat expanse shewed where the river lay. The bank on which I stood was a foot or two higher than the opposite bank. I describe tbe situition thus minutely in order to make the reader understand what afterwards happened. ! Not liking to lose the prize so nearly in my grasp, I resolved to risk the jump. Laying down the gun, and taking my coat off, I made the effort, and cleared the ditch, only, however, by a few inches. I secured the heron, and smoothing its beautiful plumage, but little injured by the shot, threw it across to the bank _rom which I had just come. Then, on looking around, I found myself in a sort of cul de sac. The bit of firm ground on which I stood was an island, and the only way of escape was the way I had arrived. Having; to " take off " from a lower ! level, it was much harder to get back than it had been to come ; but as there was no alternative, it had to be tried. I did not leap quite far enough, and pitched ■with hands and knees together against the edge. There was no vegitation to catch hold of, and after hanging on the balance for a few moments, vainly clutching at the mud, I fell back with a heavy splash into the water. Fortunately, I am a good swimmer, and at first while treading water, the ludicrousness of the affair alone struck me ; but when I began to see that it might be difficult to get up those slimy, overhanging banks, I must confess I

felt rather frightened. It was impossible to get out at the spot whore I had fallen in. I swam further up the ditch, aud trying the bottom of it, felt my feet touch the soft tenac'ous mud, that gave no support, but was ten times more dangerous than the water. The water became shallower as I struggled on, but the muddy bottom refused to give mo a standing-place, and the muddy sides afforded no hold for my hands. It at last became so shallow that I had to turn on my back to avoid kicking the mud as I swam, and when in this position I could push my arms into it with almost as much ease as. I could push them through the water ; but to draw them out again was far from easy. With a horrid fear of being unable to extricate myself from the mud, and of a sLw suffocation, I made a sudden dash back into the deeper water, and tried the other ditches, only to be repulsed in the sanao manner. I swam round and round the pool, se.king for an outlet, and beginning to feel my boots and clothes very heavy. Even now I* involuntarily smiled at the comparison which suddenly occurred to me between myself in this plight and a mouse swimming round a bucket of water; but the thought that I too, like it, might be swimming for my life soon drove all ludicrous thoughts out of my head.

Matters now began to look very serious, when I saw a root or branch of some long-buried tree projecting out of the bank. I caught hold of it ; but it was not strong enough to enable me

to lift myself out of the water. All that I could do was to support myself with my hands just sufficiently to keep tny head above the surface. I took this opportunity of kicking off my boots.

TJp to this time, I could scarcely realise my position ; but now the conviction began to dawn upon me that I might never again see the mother and sisters I had left in the cottage a mile and a half away. I looked up at the sky, in which the twilight was fast giving place to the moonlight and across which the clouds were merrily driving before the evening breeze ; and then I looked at the black and slimy walls which hemmed me in, and felt as though I were about to scream with terror. From my childhood I have always had a horror of confinement of any kind. I have felt strangely uncomfortable when I have been perauaded into exploring a cave, or when I have been shewn through a prison. This feeling I felt now more strongly than the fear of drowning. To die hemmed in by those gloomy walls would be terrible.

To add to the weirdness, a hollow booming sound, almost amounting to a roar, ran through the quivering bog, intensified to me, no doubt, by my imprisonment in the heart of the moss. This, though I had never before heard it, I knew to be the note of the bittern. During the night, it was repeated several times, and anything more weird and dismal it would be hard to imagine.

I had not as yet thought of shouting, but now I did so till I was hoarse. The only answer was the eerie scream of the curiew. The improbability of any one being near enough to hear me so late, struck me, and I desisted from the useless labour. The stillness was intense, broken only at rare intervals by the bittern or curlew. Plow long I clung to the branch, I do not know. Fortunately, the water was not cold. The clouds had cleared away, and the moon, near the full, shone brightly. Had it been dark, my courage must have given away, and I should most probably have sunk. As it was, I cannot say that I quite despaired of a rescue in some way or other. If I could only hold out till morning, some one might, I conjectured, come for the purpose of carrying away the turf sods, and might see my coat and gun, which would lead to a search I had not much hope in any search from tbe village ; I had started in the direction of the cliffs, my favourite evening haunt, and I fancied that would be the direction the searchers would take. As the night wore on — oh, so slowly — with the moon so calmy gliding through the stars above me, I fell into a kind of stupor, and I can distinctly remember repeating scraps of verses totally unconnected with each other. From this state, I was aroused by the loud note of a night-bird, probably an owl, and found my arms stiff from holding on to the root ; while my legs felt like weights of lead suspended beneath me. While trying to change my position, I fancied I heard the gurgling sound of running woter, and that not far off. I listened intently, and found it was no fancy. Water was evidently running into the pool, and I saw by the root I was clinging to that the water had risen some inches.

A cheering hope sprang up within me, as it flashed across my mind that the tide must be rising, and that the pool must have an outlet into the river.

The thought infused new life into me, and I struck out in the direction of the sound. Then, to my intense joy, I saw distinctly, in the clear moonlight, that the water was streaming in fast through several small inlets, and pouring in quietly and steadily, through one of the ditches I had previously swum up. I knew that if the tide rose another foot or eighteen inches, I could by treading water fast, Bpring up so high as to be able to

catch hold of the top of the bank, and so swing myself up. I knew ako that the water could nob possibly bsgiu to flow into the bog-pools until it was nearly high tide. Eeturningt > my resting-place, I watched anxiously, tho prospects of speedy deliverance banishing all weariness. The water continued to pour in steadily, and in ! greater volume. The dawn was now breaking, and I had not much longer to wait. The water had ceased flowing, aud the bank in one place was barely five feet above the water. Taking a long breath, I let myself sink low, and then treading water as strongly and quickly as possible, I threw half my body above tho surface of tho pool, and caught the top with one hand. Before tho soft earth had time to crumble beneath my weight, I had obtained a firmer grasp with the other hand, and in another moment stood on the moss — saved, drinking in with eager gasps the fresh air of the ingThe white haze was rapidly clearing away, and through it I saw five or six men hurrying towards me. I had a confused idea of being helped to my lodgings, and of afterwards telling my adventure to many eager questioners. The soaking I had had, and the exposure to the unhealthy mists which rise from the morass in the night, caused an illness for a time, but the effects soon wore off. The heron is stuffed, and adorns my cabinet, unconscious of the Tevenge which overtook its destroyer.

Religion G-one Mad. — A most unpleasant and disgraceful scene took place in the Town Hall, Hobart Town, on Sunday evening, 19th December, 1869. Mr. Douglas, who the previous Sunday evening, prayed in offensive language for some of his hearers, whom he pointed out "as scoffers dressed in the garb of gentlemen, but thou, Lord, knowest they are not gentlemen," last Sunday left the platform, and standing up in front of several gentlemen, spread his hands over them and prayed that the " Lord would descend and cut to pieces" those whom he designated scoffers. Some of those thus " prayed. at " left, others retained their seats, and on Mr. Douglas resuming his place on the platform, a person went up and remonstrated against such lansjuago a3 praying G-od to cut people in. pieces, and asked an explanation as to his meaning. Mr. Douglas said nothing, but on his interrogator resuming his seat, burst out by saying no one would dare to question him a second time. The man accepted the challenge, and again aslied an explanation. Mr. Douglas was again silent. Singing and prayer were then repeated, and on those being concluded some of those over whose heads Mr. Douglas spread his hands invoking the "destruction of the scoffers," and denied having by word, act, or gesture, given cause of offence, or any indication of their opinion *of the evening's service. A ci'owd of people then rushed on the platform, and a scene of great confusion ensued. Baby-formes' g ts Prance. — Babyfarming pays in France. Just now, to say nothing of the Savoyards who come to Paris during this season to sweep the chimneys, and who tupply with the " music of the future " after their work is done, there is a storm getting up as to the manner young France is reared. Recently the humane were moved by the discovery of a little girl and boy, aged six and ten years respectively, who were employed in a factory from four in the morning till three in the afternoon, watching the running of molten glass from a furnace, who new know Sunday rest, no holiday relaxation, and whose employers pay them eight sous a day — > forgetting in the act all pity, justice, and honour. The evil is not greatest here. It is in sending the infants out to nurse, for the trading and working classes rarely roar their little ones. It is a horrible industry, and kills more babies than croup or cholera. A doctor has stated that every infant sent to the ordinary nursing grounds in Normandy, was condemned to death. In no department of France, is the infant death-rate under 30 per cent., and too often amounts to 83. Nurses are fined and imprisoned for their neglect, or rather their inhuI manity. A rag soaked in sugar aud water is given to the little stranger to suck nutriment as it best can ; a drop of opium quiets the noisiest, and the doctors appointed to report on the health of the infants are chased away by the nurses with, broomsticks. When a child dies there is no sorrow — "Bahi" says its care-taker, "it is only a petit Paris that ono inters." A commission will be appointed to enquire into these abuses, and the law still further made irore stringent to repress them. — " Southland Times " Paris letter, November 6th, 1869, Hottoway*s Pills. — Mastery over Disease. — There is a constant tendency in the human body to pass from strengbh to weakness unless some means be adopted to counteract the " wear and tear," and other deteriorating influences. Holloways Pills effoct this admirably : they accomplish alt the most exacting invalid can require. A s alteratives they regulate the stomach and rouse tho liver ; as purifiers they improve the blood's quality ; as aperients they -romoto peristaltic action, and as tonics they Invigorate the nervous system. They have blessed with health thousands previously blasted by' disease. In all cases the indigestion, palpatation, perspiration, headaches, heartburn and functional obstructions, suffereta have Holloway's Piiis aa a resource to fall back upon, which will never disappoint their moat sanguine hopes.

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