The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1880-05-09
THE SPRING IN THE RAvlNE.


con, Mac Hold up minute, can't
youY''
My stalwait companion, who stodiy tearing
his way through the chaparrai, some twenty yards
ahead stopped at my call, and turning his weather.
"What's the trouble?''
waited until Joined him before answering.
'This Is getting monotorous. How much further
Is II To Gucineville?'
"Mattcr of two miles. You look tagged out. -
con. I'm not done up exactly. only dreadfuy
thirsty. Isn't there any water hercaboutsY
None nearer than the liver
"1lcn the deuce take this Contoundcd hunting ex-
petition, exclaimed. testify. 'No game nothing
but tiamping over these chaparral hills In
this hot sun. Hang 1t all always thought
the ,edwoods place for shade and GOODNESS, not
heat -
,Ycu wouldn't expect 1t to lie SO up here, where
all the timber has been cut, would you?'' feioineI
my companion. ''Bnt don't you give II up, my
boy, - he continued. "Comc TO think, there is one
place not far from here where water eau be got.
although--''
"Although what?''
COB. well, never mind. Come along and II take
YOU there. Here, IN carry your gun. If you're
tiicd''
"No. no: thanks. Drive ahead. -
can right then, follow your LEADER and lie
plunged on once more, his mighty limbs carrying him
through the tangled brushwood with an ease
AMI celebrity which could not but admire and envy.
Coming shortly to dry ravine which crossed U,lr
course almost at right angles we turned down it, and
descended the ridge for some little distance, the
hazel, elder, and pepperwocd. and the gully deepen
ing to canon. Az last, dropping upon onr hands
ami knees and creeping rerlolce In that position for
ten Or twelve yards we emerged In spot which
seemed designed by nature for sccluson and comfort.
It was little glade not more than eight yards square,
level very slightly sloping, and entirely over
Swallowed by the branches of giant pcporwoo, under
the very trunk of which was pool of water. de-
lirlously clear and cool, though wholly without either
inlet outlet, MS far as I could perceive. flung
myself down upon the swafd beside the spring. and
drank until further drinking was impossible; then
turned with longdr sigh of satisfaction to Mae,
iemarking:
s'wcll, old fellow, this excursion isn't bad after
ALL
lie had taken a long draught himself, and was now
reclining the grass beside me, his face duh aud
piessioncss, and absent look In his dark gray eyes.
lie started however, at my remark, and gave slight
sign o assent before reapsing into bis former state Of
quctude. For some moments neither of us spoke
again. and them recollecting the difficulty we had ex-
perieuced in approaching the spot and Its perfect
scclision asked:
.'Iow did you first discover this spot Mac ?for of
course yoli'ye been here before. -
lie answered slowly. fixing his eyes upon me, with
strange look in their dark-dray depths:
con, yes I've been here before-oncc. ~
"No-yes. wcl-had been hunting.'
This with grim smile, and that same curious look
'.welI, hope You had better luck than we've had
| to-day
''We hadn't been hunting the same sort of
game
'swhat kind, then?''
"Man,' answered Mac, laconically. l stared at
at him.
fellows that hunted that Foiestve chap through here
some years back
"you mean lie, the wife murderer?''
eyes,
I,ut YOU were not n constable then, were You ?''
"No. But besides the officers crowd there We're
several parties OF citizens outton't you rec0ect?
was with of them.'
al remember all about itnow, - answered. 80 So
| 1t was then that you stumbled on this nook''
eyes,
remained silent for some moments mentally re-
viewing the circumstances of that most atiocious
der, but finally recPened our conversation with the
remark:
'.lt is singular that there never should have been
anything heard of that fellow. Notwithstanding the
| hot pursuit aud close inquiry
every Singular
"lle may turn up yet. though saldI.
| "Not by a id sight, responded Mac with
"Why what the deuce!'' exclaimed l. in astonsll-
| ment. ''What do you know of him -
81? Nothing. What should ! know - he an.
| sweied, CURLY. 90 But don't believe he'll ever
| show now after lying low for all this time. Now.
come! It's getting lae--let's CO.,
eyes, mechanically 1t seemed, and gazed fxediy for
| a moment at some object overhead. Following his
glance, my eyes fell upon something which almost In,
stantly changed their careless glance TO Of keen
interest," but the question which was upon my Hips
was hnsheh by an exclamation TIC, from my companion,
| ''Ilark!'' he said. what is that?''
We listened II moment, and he continued:
"oh IT'S Chaser Hes tracked us up at last, after
| losing himself for two hours
As he ceased speaking, the dog, splendid mixture
of fox and blood hound, entered the glade lie
slowly up to me- waggng his tai! in evident pleasure.
hut as STOPPED "pct him strange change CANT
over him. His ewes CLEANED, his limbs stidened TIN
| hair along his back, and low grOwl escape,
| him. The next instant lie gave vent to a piercing
howl.
| "Down, Chascr.,' cried his master, wTathfully
cluching him by eneck at the same time. ''Qmie
| sr!'
But Chaser broke away, AMI ran round AMI ro,int
the glade. snuiing the earth and whining piteOusIy
soon lie stopped at the lower extremity OF the open
Ing, and for a moment crouched, with his inilzzl
presse, Ia the ground, mOiiOuless stone. The
instant, witt, another piercing howl, he began tear
| Ing up the earth with desperate energy. looked q
Mac. His face CHASTITY, his eyes glarng, an'
his usually pleasant features were drawn into an ex
preston dreadful to contemplate. turned from him
sIn,lhcring, and raised my eyes to what had Irevi
ously attracted their attention. II was a mark
scar almost encircling stout and nearly h0rizonta
limb of the pcpperw0od beneath which we wer
standing, and 10 seemed that It might have bcc
made by tho rasping of n rope. to which some heav
| weight had been attached. l turned again to M
| companion, and even as did SO, his rifle, which wa
already at his shoulder, becled forth Its contents
Its deafcing report echoed and reacloed along I'll
canon. Chaser did not utter sound, but sprang int
the air and fell again almost In his tracks, stark
liieess, shot through the heart. glanced from Il,
| excavation he had already made TO the tn
tree, AMI, AS the dreadful truth flashed through m
| mind, my brain swan, and my soul grew sick wit
| horror. In n moment recovered myself. III
hunter was already making his way through the 81,
| cifcling thickct. Silently followed him, leayin
the dead hound, with his wide open aud garng eyes
| tognarl alone the accursed spot.