The state journal., 1884-11-08

round the fire of Pat. Murphy's drinking
saloon, situated in that delightful local
lily known to diggers as Rattlesnake
Gulch They were listening eagerly to
the details of story related by Gentle
man Jack, a member of their fraternity
who had recently visited San Francisco.
Old Grizzly smoked in silence for some
ime and the miners had resumed the
usual occupations of their idle hours,
drinking, smoking, play ing poker and
quar- cling, which amiable amusements
had been momentarly suspended in order
to welcome the return of the "wanderer"
with due empr6ssDleRt, when suddenly
the deep voice OF Old Grizzly was heard
above the babel oftOngues, saying This
story Of Jacks about the Devils Panni-
ken aud the man they found there puts
me in mind Of what befell me and
mate Of mine when we were riding
through that same place one October
night hard upon twenty years ago. His
Satanic Majesty had 4 hand in that job,
if ever he had in any thing"
spin lis your yarn, old chap"
shouted dozen voices and passing the
word for fresh supply of wisky, they
gathered closer to the log fire, filled
their pipes, and prepared to listen with
the keen interest OF men who lead an $50
lated and monotOnous life far from the
stir and life of big cities, and are there
fore ever ready and eager TO hail the
smallest incident with pleasure while a
good story teller is re .arded with univer-
sal respect Rattlesnake Gulsh was at
that period q comparatively new claim,
on the very outskirts of civilization, and
news from the cities was long In reach
ing the denizens Of his locality.
What am going to tell you, boys,
has never crossed my lips from that day
to this, and mott likely never would if |
hadn't Glanced to come along just now.
as Jack was speaking about the body
those navvies found in the Divil's Pan
niken
Being politely requested by his hearers
to "Shcll it QUIT Old Grizzly cOntin.
ued whether you believe what I'm
going to say is no matter now. believe
it, though cant understand how it all
came about. Well as said before, the
time was hard on twenty years ago, and
the night was the last in October
"Bedad, and its that same night nOWr"
PIT in Murphy.
80 it is T. acqu esced Old Grizzly
but never thought Of it till this minute;
and the whole thing comes around again
on All Halloween, Of all nights in the
year Those of You boys Who'Ye been
raised in tn. Cd country will know what
folks believe, in most villages and coun-
try places, of Halloween, and the strange
things that happen to men abroad at
midnight and 10 lads and lasses who try
the Halloween spells for wives and hus-
bands"
Sure and every boby knows them
things, agreed Murphy, casting an I'M
easy glance over his shoulder as he spoke.
well true or false, for one thought
little enough Of them when [ was Young;
but as luck or fate would have it, | rode
through the Devils Ianniken on the 31st
OF OctO.cr. that special night I'm going
to tell you OF. | wasn't alone either
perhaps, If had been, shouldn't have
felt so Jolly for, not to speak of the
loneliness OF the place, with its great
black rocks towering up on either side of
yOu,and almost shutting out the sky, ex-
cept for harrow strip overhead, the
place had an i'll name both with the Injuns
and miners, Many queer tale was told
round camp fires and folks said the place
was haunted that miners had lost
their way there many time, and had
never been seen or heard of again.
I'D been working all the season at a
claim-a new I'm then, but worked out
and forgotten now-which we used to
call Cherokee Dicks, because Cherokee
lnjan first showed us the place. There
was perhaps dozen of us all told, but
chummed and worked from the first
along with chap they called the Fly
ing Dutchman. When we had been
together goodish bit, he told me his
real pane was Cornelius Vermudyn; and
acquainted him with mine and where |
hailed from. He was Dutchman, sure
enough, but had travelled half over the
world, used to think from his talk; and
he could speak as good English as you or
me-or any here. :"
A dubious smile lowered for an instant
on Gentleman Jacks lips at this native
statement, but nobody observed him;
they were all intent on Old Grizzly and
his yarn. and that worthy continued
we began to find our claim about
cleaned out, and we-that's me and Yer
mudyn-reckoned to make tracks before
the winter, and get down Frisco way.
Well, we each had good horse and
nice bit Of gold, and we was sworn
mates-come what might--so we started
riding as far as we could by day and
camping out at night, if we weren't able
70 reach a settlement or diggings by
nightall
ION this night, it seemed as if we'd no
luck from the beginning. We lost our
way for a goodish bit, and were some
time finding the track again; after that,
night seemed to come on suddenly like.
We'd rode and rode thSt day without
ever a sign of man or beast, aad when
we came to this place, Vermudyn SAYS
This must be the famous Devils Panni-
ken, old boy had been almost falling
asleep on my horses neck; but / woke
with start and answered all in hurry:
'Ofcourse it is. 1t seemed somehow as
if knew that place well, and began to
ride on quickly.
Stop! hollored Vermudyn, unless
you want to lame your horse or break his
knees among those rocks AS he came
up with me, he put his hand on my arm,
and / drew rein.
Anyhow, / said. let's get QUE of
his, and then well camp for the night
I'n as tired as dog, and can hardly
stick in my saddle.
Why not camp heres' saws Yer
mudYn, with laugh. Who's afraidf'
I'm Motif that's what you mean,
answered; but Id rather camp out.
side.
ga good two miles of bad riding, ;
said he, quietly. Why shouldn't we
content ourselves with snug corner of
the rocks, where we can shelter from the
windf As far as | can make out, there
brush and litter enough for fire, and
we've got bait for our horses.