The Horseshoe Deep Secret.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21118, 27 February 1932, Page 4 (Supplement)

The Horseshoe Deep Secret.

By ELLERSLEY HALL.

"Tell rne the story, Frank!" Jack Desmond turned from the fifty foot drop where the river silently flowed round the bend known as Horseshoe Deep, and sat down beside his friend Frank Harrison. Frank pulled a blado of grass, nibbled the end of it, then clasping his hands round his knees, began. " My grandfather told it to me," he said, " so I'll give it to you just as I learnt it. It's nearly fifty years ago since the coaches came along this road from the Skipper Mines, and as this was a lonely part of the road it was here that Jack Bradshaw and his gang used to stage their hold-ups. One day an extra large consignment of gold was being brought from the mines and although the news was supposed to be kupt quiet it leached the ears of the outlaws. The manager of the mine was following in his gig, about a-quarter of a mile behind the coach and as he neared the bend he

heard shots being fired. He urged his horse on and came upon a terrible sight. The outlaws had shot the men in charge of the gold and were galloping away in a four-wheeled buggy. Of the coach there was no sign but a gap in the fence near the cliff edge told the story. After robbing the coach the outlaws had headed the horses for the edge, lashed them with their whips, and now horses and coach were lying in thirty feet of water.

" And what about Bradshaw and his men?" queried Jack. "Wore they ever caught?" They were captured a few days later, but where they had hidden the gold remained a secret. Sometimes, when the light is right and the water isn't too deep, the remains of the old coach can be seen from this spot." Jack stood up and looked over the edge again.

" I believe I can see it, now. I wonder could we climb down to tho water and try diving to tho coach ? I'd liko to see what it looks liko after all. these years."

V What there is left of it will be rather petrified," replied Frank. " But we'll go down to the river to-morrow afternoon, when the sun is on the water, and you ran dive as much as you like. I'm not much good at diving myself."

Tho two lads rose and walked back to (he farm where Frank lived, and at which Jack was staying for the holidays. Next afternoon they scrambled down to the

water at HorseshJe Deep. Blue and mysterious looking, it flowed silently round the bend at the foot of the cliffs. " I believe 1 can see it," said Jack, as he pulled on his costume " The water is very clear, and I don't think there'i more than about fifteen feet deep owing to the dry weather. Anyway, here goes." He stepped lightly on to a rock, raised his arms, bent his knees and d:ve4 cleanly into the water. Frank watched ti .luc, white form as his chum kicked 1. way" down to the bottom. Yes, he had reached the coach. Frank's heart stood still. His friend had disappeared from view. Frank shaded his eyes and peered down into the depths. Jack had been under half a minute now. He was taking a risk in remaining down so long. Perhaps he had swum into the coach and couldn't get out. Another ten seconds passed. Frank was rapidly getting panicstricken. What on earth was Jack doing ? Another five-ten-fifteen-twenlv-thirty seconds tick&d by. Something must be wrong. By no means a good diver, Frank knew that unless his friend re-appeared in a second or two he would have to go down after him. i '■ It's no good," he muttered between clenched teeth. " I'll have to go down. I daren't wait any longer." Hastily lie flung off his clothes. Inhaling rapidly half a dozen times, he drew two deep breaths and dived. With an effort he gained the bottom a little to the other side of the coach. His lungs were already well nigh bursting, and lie knew that unless he found Jack quickly he would have to shoot up to the surfare for air. He turned and saw, wdgeA under the roof of the wrecked coach. Ihe white form of his chum. With a v'goious kick he cleaved his way through the water and seized Jack under the arm-pits. Then the struggle began. Frank tugged and wriggled and struggled frantically to release his unconscious friend, while his lungs ached for air, and the puis® beats sounded like drums. Another struggle, and then he and Jack were rising up to the surface. Frank's senses were just on the point of leaving him when he found himself blinking in the sunlight, and inhaling deep gulps of air. Supporting Jack so that his face was above water, he kicked out for the bank. After a quarter of an hour's steady effort, he succeeded in reviving Jack, who declared that he felt fit enough to walk back to the farm. But Frank knew that was impossible. He dressed Jack as well as he was able, and then getting him across his shoulders, started for home.. Several times Jack began to speak in an excited manner, but Frank silenced him and told him not to talk until they reached the farm. Half an hour later, when Jack was tucked beneath warm blankets, Frank agreed to listen to his story. " But for your timely rescue there would have been no tale to tell," began Jack. " Cut out the timely rescue," interrupted Frank. I was scared stiff. Get on with the tale." Jack smiled rather wanly. " The old story about the outlaws robbing fhe coach before they drove it over tile edge is all wrong. The coach went over before tliey had time to rob it, and the gold is there now, at the bottom of Horseshoe Deep. It was the discovery of it that kept, nie down too long and when I wanted to riso I was caught and lost my senses before I could free myself." " And the gold is still there," repeated Frank in amazement. " Gee whiz. Do you think we can get it?" " You bet we can," replied Jack. And after two months' work they p-'t it. Willi the. help of Frank's father they diverted tho water higher up the stream and drained the pool. It was arduous toil, but at. last (he gold reposed in the bank, and as there was no one living who. had any claims to it, they were allowed to share it.