Tlllil SB VEEN TUNNEL. 



55 



pulled out into tlio stream, with tlio intention of rowing 

 back again at the proper time; but the stream was too 

 strong for them, and carried them down the river to Avon- 

 mouth, so that thej could not get back in time ; and when 

 the levellers arrived at the assigned spot, there was no boat 

 there, nor was there one in sight. They knew it was im- 

 possible for them, at that state of tide, to reach the shore ; 

 so, after waiting some time, and no boat making its appear- 

 ance, they began to get seriously alarmed. They got on to 

 the highest pai't of tlio stones, and bogiin to shout for a boat 

 to the people on shore. After some indiscriminate shouting, 

 one of the engineers proposed that they should husband their 

 voices, and then shout altogether, with a one, two, three. 

 The two did so ; but Dan, the stafE-holder, was so overcome 

 with panic that he kept on shouting as fast as he could take 

 his breath, till he shouted himself quite hoarse. They were 

 not lieai'd on shore, for the noise made by the inrushing 

 waters drowned their voices ; but it fortunately happened 

 that their departure in the morning had been observed, and 

 the people on shore, seeing that there was jio boat bi'inging 

 them back at the proper time, got out another boat, which 

 put off and brought them back, very late on the tide. 



The situation was a very trying one to the young fellows. 

 The engineers were no worse for it; but Dan, who was an 

 apparently powerful young man, died from aneurism of the 

 aorta about three years afterwards. 



There is a local tradition at this passage that a corps of 

 Cromwell's soldiers were lost hero during the time of the 

 Parliamentary wars. The men, with their officer, came to 

 the Black Rock, on their way to Bristol, and demanded that 

 they should be ferried across the river. 



These men know nothing about the peculiar features of 

 this part of the river, or the nature of the ferry ; and the 



