, 1861-01-24
The Cannibals Of Auvergne.

when aW0ke l started forward at br1ek pace,
resolving to make sure Of not being benighted
among the mountaina However, before bad
walked more than half an hour, the path, which
had been growing less and less distinct for some
time past, at length branched of in several d.
rections. These branches, soon ascertained,
could none Of them be traced more than few
hundred rods, becoming gradually obliterated
and undistinguishable from the rocky wilderness
around. It was plain enough that this could not
be the right path-that had lost my way, in
fact. II was not 4 choice Of paths this tune,
however, for the path had left me altogether.
What was to be- done nowr There was not q
human being Of whom could inquire probably
within circle Of several miles; and to retrace
my cps to the spot where had diverged from
the other path would unquestionably involve the
necessity Of spending q considerable part Of the
night upon the mountains. It was no easy mat
ter to decide what was best to be done, but l
finally came to the conclusion to push forward
in line making nearly q right angle with the
course of the stream, hoping thus to strike the
right path, which must, thought, run nearly
nearly parallel to it.
The event showed that my notion was Q COR
rect one. I finally succeeded in getting into the
right path, though passed it in the first in.
stance without noticing 1t, and wandered several
miles too far to the right being eventually set
straight again by an old charcoal-burnsr whom
accidentally fell in with. By this time L was
nearly sunset, and was forced to make the last
fur or five miles Of my journey in the dark.
did not need the stimulous supplied by tie dis
tant bowling If 4 pack Of wolves TO induce me
to use all due diligence in getting forward but,
do the best could, It was a very slow business,
and It was past eleven o'clock when saw light
cleaning in the distance, and cordially welcomed
it as an indication Of the close proximity Of the
village, or ct least some house or hamlet In its
immediate vicinity.
bad not advanced far when perceived that
the light was not altogether stationary, and
soon Afterwards discovered that 1t did not pro-
coed from Q house, though could dimly dis
IN building Of come sort beyond it Finally,
drew near enough to see what was the true
state Of the case, and was good deal startled
at the sight The building was evidently an old
stone church, and = party Of tive or six men,
one Of them holding o lantern, stood in the
church.yard, round an open grave.
Sheltered BY an old diiapidated wall, which
enclosed the place, ! was enabled to get near
enough TO soc that these men were not, a. had
at first supposed, lowering body into the grave,
but hoisting one out Of Il. Ny curiosity was
already aroused, and this discovery greatly in
creased It, for body-snatching, felt sure, was q
thing unheard Of among the simpie-minded Au-
vcrgnats. could only see the dim outline Of
what was no doubt Q coffin, as they raised 1t
n0iselessly from the grave and placed L on Q
sort Of litter which they bad brought with them.
Having then hastily shuveled back the earth,
four Of them raised the litter to their shoulders
and bore Il rapidly away.
The course pursued 6y the party led them in
the direction in which had been travelling, that
Il to say, toward the village, and l followed
just close enough to keep them In sight In a
very short time, as had anticipated, the dusky
outline Of the h Iuses loomed up in the darkness.
At this point, the men with the litter turned
aside from the path and plunged into . gloomy
looking ravlne TO tho right Alter u moments
hesitation I followed them. They had extin-
guished their lantern, and was obliged 70 trust
to my ears rather than my eyes to guide me in
the pursuit. had not Gar to go however, for
the party soon halted ct the door Of . small
cabin, into which they entered with their burden.
Softly advancing, cautiously made the circuit
Of the hut and soon discovered that the small,
unglazed windows were stopped up BY sacks,
stuffed with wool, or some similar substance.
The door, too, was secured, 50 that Il was i'm
possible 10 see through the key-hole, or any
where about it. and was beginning 10 despair
OF the possibility Of asccrtaining anything Of
what was going on inside, when my eye acci-
dentally canght fash Of light, coming IRON the
interior through crevice IN the wall This
hole was large enough 10 look through, but It
was unfortunately very near the ground, and
was unable TO see anything inside higher than
the Wristbands Of the mems brooches. Ny Gu.
riosity was thus to some extent baffled, but l
could easily perceive that they bad placed the
bo'ly on table in the centre Of the room, and
tree Of their number, wl.o held long, bloody
knives in their hands, seemed 10 be at work
upon Il, though could not exactly ascertain
what they were doing. .a.
This was no scientific post norton examina.
ton or dissection. What were they doing ?
What could their purpose beP knew the
gross superstition which prevailed among these
mountains. and visions Of dark heathenish rites