THE MYSTERY LIGHT.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17976, 22 March 1930, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE MYSTERY LIGHT.

“ YI7LIAT say we walk home, Fred ? ' We shall have quite half an hour to wait for the last ’bus, and by that time we can be there.” 44 Well, it’s not going to be a very pleasant walk in this rain, but I’m game!” replied bis chum- “ Come on then, Charlie —step it out!”

Buttoning up their collars, the two boys set off and had soon reached the road that wound its way over the cliffs to Rockdene. Fred -Everton and Charlie Bates had been to a school concert which had been held in a large hall at Penfold. The concert had been rather late in finishing, and as both boys had been taking part in the performance itself, they. were among the last to leave. And now after waiting for a 'bus, they had foun'd it already overcrowded. “ This has put quite a damper on a very jolly evening,” said Fred, as 1 they trudged along. “ I didn’t expect to have to walk home in the rain. It looks like blowing up for a storm.” 14 It’s certainly breezy up here—but I’ll tell you what!” suddenly cried Charlie;; 44 Let’s cut across to the cliff path and go home along the beach! We shall probably save about half a mile!” ‘‘■My word! You are full of brainy suggestions to-night, .Charliel” said Fred in bantering tones. . “ But the sooner we get home the better! Lead on, MacDuiT!” “We shall find the path rather slippery, I expect, so mind how' you come-down, Fred.!’’ warned his chum as he led the way. A few minutes later and the two boys, were stepping it out briskly along the beach. Sheltered as they now were by the tall cliffs' that edged the bay, they ■found progress much easier. “ How far are we off Druid’s Gave?" asked Fred, after they had been walking' a good ten minutes. There it is—-where you see that black shadow at the foot of the cliff,” replied Charlie, pointing a litMe way ahead... > ; Then he suddenly caught his chum’s arm.

“Did you .see that light twinkle?" “ Yes, it looked like somebody flashing an electric torch,” said Fred. " Look! There it is again!” -■ . Both boys stood and gazed in astonishment as the mysterious light flashed out above the cave. It twinkled like a very bright star for a few seconds, and then all was blackness again. “What does it mean?” asked Fred, who was the first to pull himself together.. “Is it somebody .trying to warn us of. some .unforseen danger?” “ Most likely they, have slipped down! the cliffs and are.'trying to attract attention,” said' Charlie. “ Any-, way, we will soon find out.” ‘Come on!” They started to walk on again, although rather cautiously now, both gazing fixedly at the. spot up on the cliff where they thought they had seen the light. And presently in the gloom they made out the shadowy figure of a man clambering down towards .the cave. “Look! There lie is!” cried Charlie, rather excitedly. But neither boys were quite prepared for what happened next. The sound of Charlie’s voice must have reached the man for he half turned towards them. Then lie appeared.Jo miss his footing, and with a startled exclamation he came rolling down the cliff and lay still at the mouth of the Druid’s Cave. For a moment the hoys stood and J watched him, too spellbound to move, j "He’s hurt!”, gasped out Charlie at I last, his face going quite while. ! "We must go and help him!” cried i Fred- j Quickly the hoys'ran forward and | were greatly relieved-to find the man | was only unconscious. lie had knocked his head in falling. ]

(Sent by 44 Diamond ’Elf,” Tamahere.)

“ •Help me pull him in the cave, Fred, out of th rain,” said Charlie, " and then you must run on to ; Rockdene and get help." It was while they were struggling into the cave with the injured man that a figure'in oilskins suddenly appeared at the entrance. In his hands was a huge bundle bound up with cord and this he threw down inside. He was gone again as quickly as he had come, and by the time the boys had carefully put down their burden and ran back to the mouth of the cave, the mysterious visitor had disappeared 1. But somewhere out -to sea they thought they heard the faint sound of a motor .boat and but for the evidence of the bundle lying just inside the cave they would have come to the conclusion that the man in oilskins existed only in their imagination. “He might have waited and given us a hand whoever he was,” said Fred. ‘My hat! Wasn’t he in a hurry!” “Well, you can hurry now as quickly as you like,” cried Charlie. “I’ll do my best to bring the stranger round while you are gone. But -you had better leave your torch with me in case my battery runs out. Now off you'got" Running as .quickly as he could, Fred went dashing along the sands in the direction of Rockdene. But he had only covered half the distance when he sdw a figure emerge from behind some rocks. On drawing- nearer Fred saw that the figure was that of a man. He was wearing a peaked cap and a long waterproof coat and had the appearance of a naval officer, ■; .“ Hello, sonny! Where are you off t.o in such a hurry?” he asked pleasantly as Fred drew level with him.

As soon as Fred had recovered sufficient breath, he told him how they had seen the man fall down the cliff and that -he was on his’ way to Rockdene to fetch help- “ Rather a short man isn’t he sonny, with a dark moustache?” asked the officer.. “That’s right sir!” replied Fred. “Do you know him?" “No, but I hope to soon!” he said with a smile. “ I’m coming back-with you now, and we’ll take help with us in case it is needed." With that he gave a shrill whistle and at once half a dozen men came running up. But yet another -surprise was in store for Fred that night. On nearing the cave, great was his astonishment to see the man whom he had left unconscious, now come out carrying the bundle on his shoulder. “Why, there goes the man—but where can Charlie be?" he cried. “He promised to wait until I returned I"---' But. already the officer and his men were in pursuit of the man with the mmdle. Hurrying after them, Fred stopped at ihe Druid's Cave and peered withinAH was silent, and dark inside. But Fred’s joy knew no hounds when a familiar voice cried: “ Is that you, Fred?”. “ Where are you, Charlie? What's wrong with the torch?” “I’m trussed up like a chicken!" came . the astonishing reply. “ Come and cut ttiis cord that bounder roped me up' with, and I’ll help you find your torch. Just then the officer entered the cave, and Charlie was soon released. But he could not but feel pleased when he heard that the man who had tied him up was now a prisoner himself.

It appeared that he was in league with a number : of foreigners who were making large sums of money by smuggling goods into this country in fast motor boats.

It was his mysterious signal to one of them thai the boy .chums had seen. But it will be several years now before lie will again he able to use the flashlamp for his own ends.