The Placer herald., 1871-03-04

you go-you may be murdered"
As che spoke, the stranger darted an ugly
leok at her, and then turned quickly away.
don't be alarmed, Annie; the robbers
are gone by this time, and we will be back
in a few minutes. Keep stout heart.
"Now. then," to the stranger, 81 am ready
to CO."
''All right; come on!'
Annie followed them to the door, and, af-
ter another injunction from her to be very
careful, John sprang into the wagon with
the stranger, and they drove off together.
1t was wild night to be out. The wind
shrieked fearfully through the trees, and
the snow was dashed pitilessly into their f,-
ces. The stranger lashed the horse furious
ly, and as their speed increased, it seemed
as if the storm increased in fury.
Are we not almost there?" asked john
The stranger sat in sullen silence, and an
swered him not a word. He cursed his horse
and ashed him still more numerically; but
did not deign to answer Johns question.
John was now certain that there was
something wrong; he believed he was riding
with madman, and he nwardly blamed
himself for being so credulous as to believe
the story Of the robbery, and allow himself
to be taken away from his home by man
he knew nothing about.
Something must be done, he reasoned,
but what that something was, lie must take
time to decide. Ifhc was riding with mad
man, he well knew he would have to be
careful how he acted lie addressed him
again.
''Sir, supposed from what you said that
the scene of the robbery was but short
distance from my home, yet you have been
driving at the greatest speed, and you have
said nothing at all about the robbery, nor
made any signs Of coming to a halt. What
does it mean p
The stranger laughed.
81 do not like this road" continued John;
81 have never travelled it before, and think
this very strange, as have been in all parts
of the country. The way seems to be all
down hill, and it is frightfully steep. Why
do you drive SO fast?''
"The way is all the way down hill, and
you have never travelled it before-ha! ha!
ha! That's true, and you will never travel
it again!"
John was now fully convinced that he was
springing out of the wagon, but Immediately
abandoned the idea, knowing that to do SO
at the rate they were going would disable
if /. did not kill him, and If disabled
he knew he would be entirely at the mercy
of the mailman. lie also reasoned that the
slightest move in that direction could be no.
ticed, and he would be caught and held in
his place.
The storm had increased until it was a
wild, raging hurricane; there seemed to be
neither snow nor rain-the wind howled flu
riously fast, but, instead of being icy cold
and cutting, it had changed and was warm.
Total darkness fell upon them; the bowling
of the wind continued to grow louder, until
it became great roaring, rushing sound as
if town was on fire, and as if continuous
peal of thunder was reverberatng through
the air. They seemed to be whirling on
ward and downward with lightning rapidity.
John was fearfully alarmed, but be was
not man to give up in despair.
"Sir, | wish you to take me back to my
home Immediately to my home; do YOU un-
derstandP'
"Ha! hal" again laughed the stranger.
''Back to your home. DO you think you
could climb the hill all alone if | should let
you out? Could you make your way out
of the darkness, or would you need one of
the devils lanterns to light you up to the
top of the famous hill ha! ha!'
"Whero am ?" demanded John.
"Whcre arc you John Morgan, do
not wish to break the news to you suddenly,
but this much will say, we are on the road,
and we are going. You don't understand
me, and cannot stop to explain. Before an
hour passes away the good news will burst
upon YOU John Morgan, it is dark down
here, and there is some noisc around. The
night hawks are out, and they make hum
ming noise with their wings. l cannot stop
this endless, rushing sound. but can make
some light for you. See hereY'
Horror! what sight met his eyes! Nor
gan shriekcd, and seemed ready to fall from
bis seat. As his companion spoke he turn
ed into man of fire, and a great light
shone out into the darkness. As Morgan
looked at this, he recognized the same feat
ures he beheld when the man came to his
home, but they were all ablazc--the man
seemed to be one of great flame; yet Nor
gan, as he sat beside him, felt no heat, ex-
cept the heat which seemed to come from the
howling winds around him.
Morgan trembed with fear. He was
stout-hearted man, but any man
in the same position would have trembled
just as Morgan did.
"Who are you? And why don't you
take me home ?" piteously inquired Morgan.
"Who am l? Well, I'll tell you. I'm
one of his Majssty's drivers. l generally
take out cariiage and bring down load
full. This time received orders to bring
no person but you. AS to taking you home
again, couldn't think of it, drive great
many persons down this bill, but never
take any of them up again; this is contrary
to all the rules and regulations of the Do
minion. When We drivers lay finger on a
man he comes with us; he never steps out