The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1880-10-22

Journey, anu while witnessing one
of the scenes Just described that
the thrilling part Of my narrative
begins.
awe were nearing old Fort -
which loomed up ahead. 1t had
once been used as n fortification of
the whites against the Indians, l
espied an antelope feeding at .
distance of to my right, aud con-
cluded that l would 20 aud shoot
il, that We might have some of the
meat for supper, but as approach
ed it, almost within gunshot, it
scampered away out of sight. In
the meantime my companions had
rode on until they we're bat specks
in the distance; aud now, ladies
and gentlemen, | will tell you what
| saw as | refined my horse around
to go back TO the road: l beheld
q lady on foot approaching me, in-
tensely excited ~ aud going
through with sll the pantomimcs
and jesticulatious OF one iu such .
condition, although not sound sf
her voice could | then hear. She
seemed to be trying to escape from
some demon l could not ace. "A
maniac woman afoot on the plains ;
an escaped captive from the In.
diaps,' was momentarily suggested.
A sense of fear, Of sympathy, oi
surprise, simultaneously thrilled
my soul. Sue sped towards me ap-
pareutly, aud a. afterwards proved,
tor my protection. Her hair
streamed back on her shoulders 10
. uiass of golden beauty. Her
glarriug eyes protruded from their
sockets. A frail aud fragile form,
she was, but fear, grief aud desola-
tiou had eclipsed the beauty, that
doubtless had once been written
0n her brow. Imagine my horror
aud surprise when, as she reached
me, her form vanished, but l could
seetas plain AZ day her lily white
han1s clasped around ne iu frsnt,
for she was up behind me aud oh,
horror OF horrors! what did then
seei A demon! u devil a mon
ster--the author of our woes! He
was from all appearances about 30
teet long-a veritable serpent. he
had legs yet crawled on his belly.
His body was scaly. His shoulders
resembled those Of y buffalo. His
head which lowered high above
my head while riding, was the most
hideous aud unsightly spectacle OF
which mortal can conceive; the
Impression of which will never fade
from my memory. Ny bayonet
was turned towards him. Warned
him to keep Of The spirit fornn
behind me seemed secure from his
clutches for the time being. II IT.
rying on as fast as my horse could
take me, in order to catch up with
my comrades, preached the old
fort; there the spirit form of the
lady left me aud ded towards it,
pursued by the fearful monster
mentioned.
"When l tell you, ladies aud
gentlemen, that l almost doubted
my existence; that evrey hair OF
my head stood upright that my
blood ran cold-(a nightmare, too
much barley some whispered
that my tongue was paralyzed, and
Glove to the root Of my mouth,
you can form but vague idea as
to how | telt on that occasion. |
went but short distance beyond
the old fort before 1 overlook my
comrades, who had stopped and
battered out their horses for the
night. l told them of my terrible
experience. They said l was mad
had been dreaming etc.. etc. wei
said |, il you don't believe me gt
back to that old fort and see sut
hear for yourselves. They did 80
ard pretty soou they returned
quite excited, and assured nae tha
they had seen and heard enough
and that the tenth part had no
been told. They proposed to mov'
on; / heartily consented, and IL
less time than it would take you
Mr.. Bond, to lay another piece o
that tat pine on the fire, like tb'
Arab, We had folded our tents an'
had as silently stole away"