The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1868-02-13

the intention OF dropping behind.
"Lead on" cried the stranger; "don't
be afraid" ......+-7-
'cI'm afraid 1 cannot" replie the per-
son addressed, continuing to hold back
his horse until he was at least length
behind his companion. "My horse is
cowardly, and becomes Interchangeable in.
thunder storm. If you will go on,
though, think will follow close enough
to point out the road"
The stranger pulled up instantly. A
strange light cleaned in his eyes, while
his hand sought his breast pocket, FROM
which he drew something. The guide
saw the movement and stopped also.
"Guides should lead, not follow" said
the stranger, quietly, but with frmaess,
which seemed to be exceedingly uppleas-
ant to the person addressed '-t2 ,
"But," foltered the guide, "my horse
won't 60" TfE7a. 80
"Won't Y'' queried the stranger, with
mock simplicity in hfs tone.
The guide heard sharp click, and saw
something CLEAN in his companions right
hand. He seemed to understand what it
meant perfectly, for he Immediately drove
his spurs into his horses hanks and shot
ahead of his companion without another
word.
He no sooner reached his old position,
however, than the stranger saw him give
short turn to the right and then disap-
pear, as though he had vanished through
the thick foliage of tho trees skirting the
road.
The stranger dashed up to the spot,
and saw that the guide had turned down
narrow lane leading from the road into
the heart of the wood
Without hesitating an instant, he gave
his horse the rein, and off the noble ami
NAL started like the wind 10 the wake of
the flying guide. The strangers horse
| being much superior to the other, the
race was short one, and terminated by
| the guide being nearly thrown from his
saddle by hand which was laid upon his
bride, stopping him like fash.
! He turned in his seat and beheld the
! strangers face, dark and frowniug, and
| trembled violently as ho felt the smooth,
colo barrel of a pistol pressed against his
! check.
"This cursed beast almost ran away
with me-" cried the guide, compnsing
| himself as well as he could under the cir
| cumstances
eyes, [ know" said his companion,
dryly; shut mark my words, young man
If your horse plays such tricks as that
again, he'll be the means of endangering
! his masters health"
They both turned, and cantered back to
the road. When they reached it again,
and turned the heads of their horses in
! the right direction, the stranger said to
| his guide, in tone which must have con-
| vinced his hearer as to bis earuestness:
"Now, friend Wilhelm, [ hope we will
| understand each other tor the rest Of the
| journey. You are 10 continue on ahead
| Of me, in the right road, without swerV-
| ing either to the right or the left. If
| see you do anything suspicious, | will
| drive brace of bullets through you with
out another word of notice. Now, push
| on !"
The guide started on as directed, but
| it was evident from his movements aud
his mutterings that he was slarmed at
something else beside the action OF bis
| follower.
| In the meantime, the thunder bad ip-
creased in violence, and the flashes of
| lightning become more frequent and more
binding.
For about mile, the two horsemen
rode in silence, the guide keeping up to
his directions, while his follower watched
his every movement as q eat watches q
| NJ ouse.
Suddenly the guide stopped aud looked
behind him. Again he heard the click
of the strangers pistol and saw his up
lifted arm.
"Have mercy, meiD herr l'' he groaned ;
F'I dare not go o."
81 give you three seconds to go on,'
replied the stranger, steruly-"one
ain heavens name, spare ]" implo-
red the guide, almost overpowered with
fear "iook before me liz the road, and
you will not blame me-"
The stranger looked At first he saw
something white standing motionless in
the centre of the road, but presently q
fash Of lightning lit up the scene, and he
saw that the white figure was indeed
very horrible and ghostly ard frightful
! enough looking to chill the blood even In
| the veins of the bravest man. If his
blood chilled for momeRt, therefore, it
was not through aRy fear that he felt for
his ghostly intercepter, for the next
instant he set his teeth hard while he
whispered between them, just loud
enough to be heard by his terror stricken
guide:
"Be it man or devil-ride it down
I'll follow Twop'
With the cry of despair upon his lips,
the guide urged his horse forward at the
top of his speed, quickly followed by the
stranger, who held his pistol ready in his
hand
In another moment the guide would