The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-02-09
CLAWDEVIL.
EBelgraviai

ness in exploringfor new country. They
would set out with small following OF
black-fellows whose fidelity had been
tried, and be absent for q year or eigh,
teen months at time. Then would
turn up very Drowned, hungry-looking,
but otherwise jolly, and after visit to
the metropolis two results invariably
followed; their bankers balance would
be increased by three figures and two or
three pioneer sqautters would, before long, |
travel out upon their tracks, TO stock
and take up the eligible country they
had found and reported upon. Finding
good grazing country is still . profitable
Occupation, and is still work for brave
men. These explorers are unknown to
fame, but they often undergo severe
privations, and comfort appalling perils.
Nelson, of Joomburra, and his broth
er-in-law, Julian, met with many aston
ishing adventures, but the one they re-
membered best was, as compared. with
some Of their experiences, quite unexcit-
ING. They were approaching the verge
Of the settled district, and long march
of almost unknown plain country inter
yened between them and a certain creek
which they aimed to make. A stony
ridge confronted them in the afternoon,
and as satisfactory days travel had
been accomplished, the party encamped
and made comfortable for the night.
There was grass, and amongst the trees
on the ridge something in the way OF
pame would doubtless be beaten up.
The Young men went out with their
guns, strolled up and over the ridge, and
found themselves amongst broken rocks,
where they had hid themselves in wait
for small species of kangaroo called rock
vallaby. Soon Julian tumbled one over.
The marsupial rolled down from crag to
crag, and disappeared. Nelson crept
round the face of an angle on the track
Of other game, disturbed by the echoing
report Of the gun. Julian descended in
search Of the shot wallaby, whose death
bound had given it an impetus that
caused it, together with mass Of dis
lodged stones, to roll swift and far. 1t
was by this reason some time before Ju-
iian had picked his way within sight OF
the prize, Nelson, meanwhile, had
wandered off in another direction, turn
ing the angles of the ridge.
The wallaby lay close to what looked
ike the entrance to cave, and Julian,
fancying he saw "tracks" around, peeped
in, muttering Ozark as VOLTS mouth" "
and as silent but for the trickel Of water
within. Cautiously he walkde into the
thick darkness, and on and on for q
score Of PAGES before pausing. Ahead.
he became conscious Of pale blue glim.
mer. and he afterwards confessed that he
felt fearfully white in heart and face, as
breathless, he clutched his gun, and
noted that the light began to waver. II
the illumination had been thrown more
distinct, the phenomenon would have re
sembled the disc thrown upon the wal
bya magic lantern. Into it, faint, likt
the light itself, there intruded ghostly
visage. Impalpable as was the shape
Julian could soc bright eyes in hollow
sockets, white, haggard, wrinkled feat
ures. and matted hair and beard.
"Hallo, there" he shouted at Last
presenting his gun. "By the Lord, I'll
fire." 9
The supernatural appearance, as h
could but deem it, faded away befor
the reverberations Of his VOICE had RUM
themselves out, and deep darknes
rsigned as before. Scared, as hundred
blacks breaking in upon the midnigh
fire would not have scared him, Julial
retraced his steps and returned to camp
much mystifed.
BY and by Nelson came in with
wallaby and stone plover, and to hin
Julian told his story
Nelson was increculoua w ,r.H
81 tell you," Julian urged, "it was
a man, or an apparition. / am not ma
Or drunk"
P"Then, Julian, my Lad, we must sii
out the mystery. Let us go back wit
something in the shape Of a light, an
face the devil" r.e3 gE aNiFJ4
50 it was agreed. The bushman
Tampa tin pot Of grease with rush fc
wick-was fshed out, and a box {
matches, carefully preserved for rare o.
casions, found. They took their gun
sought the cave-meuth, and penetrate
it until, a hundred yards from the Ell
trance, the were stopped by wedg
shaped termination Of the passage. !.
POOL Of limpid water was near, fed b
riyulets down the Shiny face of the wal
The roof was about eight feet high, an
Of fantistically broken and gnarled sole
rock. Nothing more.
"This is what the doctors call an ha
lucination," said Nelson. "You are
a bad way, friend Julian, and i mu
keep an eye on you." aas a
deuce q bit," answered Julia
"There is nothing the matter with M
but I wouldn't like to say 80 much fl
the haunted cave"
Over their damper, tea, and wallat
stew, and later, over the turning-in pip
Julian kept referring to what he hs
seen, and finally became tactiturn VIII,
he received nothing but good-humor'
banter from his mate.
As ill-luck would have It, two hors
were driven in lame next morning, al
the explorers, well satisfied with Il
grass and water, and doubling when th'
.s,;,~k% aud v,onra lrrurinua' caynn n