The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-06-07

thing always prevented me, and it was
fully eleven O'Clock before I got into
my boat. By that time the bank Of
clouds had broken, and was driving
under the force of an upper current Of
| wind, across the sky. There was nc
wind below, but an ominous murmuI
among tho rushes, and strange, sudden
ripples on the water warned me that !
must make the best of my way If l
would escape wetting.
| I pushed off from the little stairs
and, as started heavy thunder cloud
yelled the moon, and was in darkness.
1 knew my way too we'll to be troubled
by that, and sculled out into the
stream. intending to make for the island
on which the lOCk-house stands, and
so across to the tOwpath side of the
river.
trees on the island I felt the shudder-
ing feeling l had experienced in the
morning. l almost persuaded myself
to turn back, and to ask Dalrymple for
shelter for the night; but, although the
muttering thunder was by this time
filling the air. and heavy drops of rain
were beginning to fall, something
can't tell what, kept me on my course.
AS passed the head of the island,
the darkness was intense, but there was
light enough for me to see that had
reached the proper course, and lay
down to my work vigorously. AT that
moment, from under the very shadow,
as it were, OF the lock gates, punt ST.
lently emerged. Again felt that
nameless. obJectless shudder. 1t was,
as far as 1 could see, a common fisher
mans punt, and there was one man in
it. I wondered for moment how he
came to be there, the lock-gates being,
as could see, even in that dim light,
shut. But paid but little attention
to him, and went on my own way. Pres
emily I found the punt close to me going,
as it seemed to me, exactly my pace,
and the man in it, l could not help
thinking, watching me. This feeling
pace. The punt shot after me, and
was presently along side. eased, and
padded quietly. The punt dropped
back, ana was again alongside my
skiff. And now noticed that 1t passed
over the water noiselessly, that the
mans punt-pole made no sound as it
was dropped into the water, no sound
as he recovered it and dragged 1t
through the water for fresh purchase.
Its occupant now kept his head to-
wards the shore away from me, and
sometimes seemed to stop and listen,
as If he expected to hear some one in
pursuit. But whether he stopped or
whether he worked, his punt, black
against the black water, kept on her
noiseless way, and kept with me. As
we passed Greenlands the clock struck
half-past eleven, and aroused by the
sound, called to my unwelcome CON-
paniOn, What o'clock Is that?' more, /
fancy, for the sake of breaking the
stiffness that was depressing me than
for any other reason, for l felt that 1
should get no answer. AS expected,
there was no reply. The punt went on
its way, stopping when stopped. keep
ing pace with me when rowed fast, its
mysterious occupant always apparent
ly ignorant of my very existence, con-
tinually pausing to listen for some-
thing he appeared to expect.
tried to persuade myself there was
nothing in all this, but L began to feel
sense of terror creeping over me that
l found it impossible to resist. BY this
time we were nearing Regetta Island,
and while l WAS watching with absorb.
ed interest the silent progress OF the
punt by my side, it suddenly, appR-
rently without any increased eXertion
on the part of its occupant, shot ahead
of me, and crossing my bows, made
over towards the Bucks shore. AT this
moment, a bright flash of lightning lit
up the country with surprising distinct
ness, and left everything 30 dark after
wards, that, although l felt the punt
was again alongside, but this time on
nv left instead of my right hand, 1
could hardly make it out. The mans
face was toward mo now, I knew, and
1 pasred curiously through the dark
ness to see what manner of man this
strange companion of mine might be.
1t had grown very dark. The moon
was quite concealed by heavy storm
clouds. l could not see the mans
features, but could make out that he
was looking earnestly and eagerly in
the direction from which we had come.
So for IL few strokes the punt, although
its occupant stood mOtiOnless, and
| of untll
we were close on the bushes at the tail of
| the island. Another vivid flash of light
ming showed the punt and man to me,
within few yards, as clear as daylight
could have done. And, o Heaven
what a face that brief momentt light
showed me! An old man, with short
grizHled hair, that seemed to stand on
| end under the influence of some fright
full horror; his face was ghostly pale;
except where liVld scar that scanned
| his Geek showed red across the ashY
skin; his throat was bare, and he SEEM
ell to have been in a struggle, for his
shirt and loose velveteen jacket were
| torn about his neck, and the shaggy
whiskers under his chin were in great
disorder. l lanCled, too. that there was
blood upon his breast and face. was
sure there was upon his hands. His
eyes, with the light of a mad horror in
| them, awful in its intensity, were star
| ing through the darkness towards the
| lock- house, and he seemed to be strain
| ing every nerve to catch some sound
| from that quarter. saw, at the same
time. hardly knowing how saw it in
that short moment, gun leaning
against the wall of the punt.
While yet I was fascinated by the
horror of the sight, he disappeared be-
hind the bushes, and as the black dark
ness settled again upon the scene, a
rafting peal OF thunder awoke the
echoes OF the hills. 1 was too startled
for a moment to row, and lay upon my
SOULS Vainly trying to explain to my
self what had seen; but, finding my
boat drifting down with the stream,
started once more. Hardly had done
so before l was alarmed by the report
of a gun, close at hand, as it seemed I,
followed by loud splash In the water.
Connecting this at once with the man
had seen, I rOwed round to the other
side of the island as fast as could,
and hailed him loudly. There was no
answer, and I could see nothing. 1
rowed up and down the island half a
dozen times, but without result. The
man and punt were gone. could not
understand it. The mans wild, strange
appearance, his evident terror, and the
| disorder of his dress alarmed me. And
then the gun and the splash! What
was it? What could have happened
L rowed uneasily about the spot for
some time, until horror OF 1t and OF
what had seen completely mastered
me, and l made the best of my way to
Henley, The storm was now at its
height, and raging with great fury.
tied my boat up to the stairs, and
went at once to my lodgings. There
was no one about, and even If there
| had been think the strange sensation