The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-02-03
hut The dissatisfied whinnying and paving Of the
horses.
CHAPTER II.
TIE masks.
70 witbeYed and 20 Wild IN their attire
That look net like tn inhabitants Of Garth.
And vet are Onr2v MACBETH

And YET are onIF AAChBiH
ITO the Devils Punch Bowl"-was the order
given by Old Hurricane as he followed the minister
into the carriage. "And now, sir, !" he continued
addressing his companion, Z" think you had better
repeat that part of the church ltany that prays to
be delivered from battle murder, and sudden
Black Donald and his gang, shall have at least
an equal chance of being upset in the darkness OF
these dreadful mountains"
"a pair of saddle mules would have been safer
conveyance, certainly" said the minister.
Old Hurricane knew that, but though great SEN
sualist, he was brave man, and so he had rather
risk his life in close carriage than suffer cold
upon fure footed mules back.
Only by previous knowledge of the route could
any one have told the way the carriage went. Old
Hurricane and the minister both knew that they
drove, numbering over the rough road leading by
serpentne windings down that rugged fall OF
ground To the rivers bank, and that then turning
the left by short bend they passed in behind that
range Of horseshoe rocks that sheltered Hurricane
Hall-thus, as il were, doubling their own road.
Beneath that range of rocks, and between it and
another range, there was an awful abyss or chasm
of cleft, torn and jagged rocks opening it were
from the bowels of the earth, in the shape of q
mammoth bowl, in the bottom of which, almost in
visible from its great depth, seethed and boiled a
river or subterranean spring. This terrific phe
nomenon was called the Devils Punch Bowl.
Not far from the brink of this awful abyss, and
close behind the horse shoe range of rocks, stood
u
who picked up scanty living by telling fortunes
and showing the way to the Punch Bowl. Her
cabin went by thename of the Witch's Hut-or Oh
Hats cabin. short distance from Hats cabin the
road became impossible, and the travellers got out,
and preceded by the coachman bearing the lam
tern, struggled along on foot through the drifted
snow and against the buiieting wind and sleet to
where faint light guided them to the house.
The pastor knocked The door was Immediately
opened by negro, whose sex from the strange
anomalous costume it was difficult to guess. Tue
tall form was rugged out first in long, red, cloth
petticoat, above which was bnttoned u blue cloth
surtout. mans old black beaver hat sat upon the
strange head and completed this odd attire.
"Well Hat, how is your patientI" inquired the
pastor, as he entered preceding the magistrate
You will see, sir" replied the old woman.
The two visitors looked around the dmly lighted
miserable room, in one corner of which stood low
bed, upon which lay extended the form Of an old,
feeble and gray haired woman.
Glow are you, my poor soul, and what can | do
for you now am herel' inquired Old Hurricane,
who, in the actual presence of suffering not ut
"Iou are Inagistrate?" inquired the dying wo-
man.
Yes, my poor soul.'
"And qualified to administer an oath and take
your deposition said the minister.
"Will it be legal-wil it be evidence in a court Of
lawi' asked the woman, lifting her dim eyes to the
Major
Certainly, my poor soul! certainly said the
latter, who, by the way, would have said anything
to soothe her.
"send every one but yourself from the room"
"What, my good soul, send the parson out in the
storm? That will never do! Won't it be just as
well to let him go up in the corner yonder?'
"No You will repent it unless this communities
ton is strictly private"
"But-my good soul, lift is to be used in court
of law"
THAT will be according to your own disore-
tion'
"My dear parson," said Old Hurricane, going
to the minister, would you be so good as to
retire."
"There is a fire in the woodshed, MASTER" said
Hat, leading the way.
"Now, my good soul, now! You want first to be
put upon your OATH"
"Yes, sir"
The old man drew from his great coat pocket
miniature copy OF the Scriptures, and with the usual
formaties administered the oath.
"Now then, my good soul, begin-"the truth, the
whole TRUTH and nothing but the truth" you know
But first, your nameE
"ls it possible you don't know me, master!"
Not I, in faith!'
recolect me, sir! ltisnecessary some authority
should be able to know me- said the woman rails
ing her haggard eyes to the face of her visitor.
The old man adjusted his spectacles and gave her
a sclntinizing look, exclaimng at Intervals
Lord bless my soul it is! il amt. it must it
can't be Granny Grewell, the-the-the--
wife that disappeared from here some twelve or
thirteen years agOW
les, master, am Nancy tTeWeU the lauleS
nurse, who vanished from sight so mysteriously
some thirteen years ago !" replied the woman.
Heaven help our hearts And for what crime
was it you away? Come-make clean breast
of it, woman! You have nothing to fear in doing
SO, for you are past the arm Of earthly law now J.
know it, master"
And the best way to prepare to meet the Divine
Judge is to make all the reparation that you can by
q full confession
al know it sir-if had committed crime {; but
| -
What? what? what What was it then? Re
member, witness, you are on your oath "
81 know that sir, and will tell the truth but
il must be in my own way"
At this moment violent blast Of wind and hail
roaIed down the mountain side and ratified against
the walls shaking the witch's hut, if it would
have shaken it about their ears
1t was proper overture to the tale that was
about to be told. Conversation was impossible
until the storm raved past and was heard dying in
deep reverberating echoes from the depths of the
Devils Punch Bowl.
at is some thirteen years ago" began Granny
Grewell, upon just such night of storm as this,
that was mounted on my old mule Molly, with ing
saddlebags full of dried YARDS. and stilled waters
and SIGH, as allus carried when was out 'tendin
or, on the SICK. was on my, way a-going to see
lady a. was sent for TO tend.
"Wel, master. I'm not 'shamed to say, "a I never
was afraid OF man, beast, nor sperrit! and never
stopped at going out all hours of the night through
the most lonesomest roads, if be was called
.
Molly, my mule, got into that deep, thick lonesome
woods as stands round the old Hidden House in the
hollow, did feel queerisb ease it was the dead
hour of night, and it was said how strange things
were seen and hearn, yes and done too, in that
dark, deep, lonesome place. seen how even my
mule Molly felt queer too by the way she stuck up
her ears stiff quilts. So, partly to keep up my
own spirits, and partly to courage her, says l.
Molly says !, what are ye afeard on? BE man.
Molly! But Molly stepped out cautious and pricked
up her long ears all the same.
well, master, it was dark couldn't see q
yard past Mollys ears, ard the path was 80 narrow
and the bushes so thick could hardly get along;
but Just as we came to that little creek az they calls
the Spout, cause the water jumps and lets along
I'll 1t emptes into the Punch Bowl, and Just a.
Molly was cautiously putting her fore foot into the
water, out stor's two men from the bushes and
seizes poor Mollys bridlen
Good beaven" exclaimed Major warfeld.
well master, before | could cry ont. one of
them williams seized me by the scruff of nv neck,
and with his other hand upon my mouth. he saws
outr 'o'" '''''''
And then, master, saw for the first time that