The Osceola times., 1876-06-10


satanic majesty himself.
They soon reached the fringe Of tim
Der, and finding gully where the,
would be safe from the eyes Of prowling
savages, they kindled fire and roasted
some juicy venison, Of which they ats
heartily, for tramp among the noun
tains is one of the best of sppetizers.
They remained here smoking and chat
ting until the moon had risen high above
the treetops, and Knowland's silver time
piece announced the hour of ten, when
shOuldering their guns they carefully
threaded their way down stream in the
direction of the island, fitting like silent
spectres from tree to tree and bowlder to
bowlder. They had traversed about a
half . mile, when Shasta Joe, who was in
advance. uttered warning "sh!" and
halted.
| [" See yer nowP' he said, turning to
the Others, "we're almost to the Internal
place, and huntin' ghosts is ticklish
sort O. business, We want TO keep clus to.
gether an as still as possible. Forrardp
Again they moved on, and soon came
In sight of the stream, cleaning in the
moonlight like a bed of molten silver.
They could see the low, black island in
the center covered with low bushes, and
concealing themselves where they could
command a good view of the island, the
stream and either shore, they began
their silent watch, continually scanning
the river and conversing only in the
lowest whispers. The tedious hours
wore slowly away, midnight drew near,
and still they waited and watched.
cts about time the critter was
a comm. IL he's goin' to-" whispered
Ben. "He generally appears near the
shadder o that tree leanin' over the
water"
The words had scarcely left his lips
when the waters near the position indi-
Gated were violently agitated, and a
huge, hairy form in human resemblance
rose out OF the waters, its two horns
cleaning ghostly white in the moonlight,
and gave vent TO screeching roar that
rolled over the waters like the shrek of
fiend, and was echoed and re-echoed
among the surrounding cliffs with a
demoniacal and startling intensity. The
next instant the strange creature,
whether man, beast, or devil, sank from
sight beneath the. troubled waters of the
Gold stream.
The trio seemed rivited to the spot by
a strange fascination, and IL was not
until the revibrating echoes had died
away, that they ventured TO breathe
freely; when Ben said, with sarcastic
ring in his voice.
What do you call that, | wonder ?"
knowland's strained nerves relaxed at
the sound of Ben's voice, and he an
swered, in strangely puzzled and wavcr-
ing tones;
"That is the most wonderful phenom-
enon ever beheld."
"lt's not spirit, though, / reckon :"
said Ben. with sneer.
"No, ! can't believe that it is. It
may be some Aquatic animal of which
we have never heard, or more probably
some miner who has found a rich lead
endeavoring to frighten and prevent any
one from approaching his claim"
mout knowed you wouldn't be-
lieve what you seed yourself The next
thing you'll be sayin' it was an optical
delusion, and we didn't hear anv noise at
ALL tell you believe it's the Ole Boy
hissclf, and we'd better git away from
his section II we want to save our hair.
The Injun's call II Devils Island, and
are as Altered Of it as death, an they do
say that whoever goes near that island
never get away alive"
u don't care what the Indians say
about it," replied Knowland; "I'm not
going to leave these parts until solve this
mystery. We can't do anything more
tonight, 40 we'll have to wait till to-
morrow night. Have you canoe about
hereT
Ben replied that he had good one
near their camp.
swell, that will do; tomorrow night
! am going beneath the shadow of that
tree. II you will 20 with me. well and
good il not, shall 60 alone"
Nothing Of importance occurring, we
will pass over the intervening time, un-
til the following night, when we find our
friends nearing the haunted island in a
large Indian canoe.
Finding their leader obstinate and set
in his purpose of unveiling the mystery,
the trappers resolved to accompany him,
though il would lead them into the yery
jaws Of death. At a little earlier hour
than on the preceding night, in order to
avoid discovery, they cautiously ap-
preached the island, and while a dark
cloud drifted across the face Of the moon.
vailing the river in shadow, they ST.
lently propelled themselves beneath the
shadows of the overhanging tree. They
had evidently come prepared for any
emergency; fer they had brought with
them, besides their usual weapons, an Ak
and strong lasso.
Here they lay quietly, scarcely speak
ing word, until near midnight, the hour
at which the monster was expected, when
one OF the trappers grasped paddle, the
other rifle, while knowland seated him
self in the bow with the lasso in his
hand, coiled ready for use.
They had not long TO wait. Soon air
bubbles began to rise slowly To the sur
face, when suddenly the waters were yio
lestly disturbed, and the hairy monster
rose into full view, with horrid shrek
upon his lips, and scarcely ten feet from
the boat. Quick as the lightning flash the
strong coil of lasso shot from the hands
OF the young man and settled upon the
shoulders of the strange creature, when,
with strong jerk, il was drawn taut and
the monster lay struggling upon the wa
ter. A lew strokes of the paddle brought
them alongside, and the writhing form,
which proved to I've that of a man, was
iiited within the canoe. lie struggled
desperately, but the trappers, finding
they had only flesh and blood to deal