Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-11-21

h gently disengagsd himself, and Matt nj
3own ON campstool close by. Her face had
1own very wistful and sad.
"Matt, !" he said, anxious to change the sub
ut, tell me something more about William
Jones"
II hate William Jones. I hateeverybody-
uut you."
"Reallyf'
"Yes. do"
"We1l, feel greatly dattered But about
he gentle Jonesi You say he was out all last
night
Matt nodded.
HE goes out nigh every night, {" she said,
"and often don't come home till morning.
Sometimes he finds things and brings 'em. He
nnds bits O. gold, and old ropes, and bottles
o rum
every odd WhereT
'He don't tell; know.7
81 wish you'd tell me, Matt. Do. have
particular reason for wanting the informa-
tion.o
Matt hesitated
"You won't say toldl William Jones
would be downright wild, he would"
'sI'n keep the secret faithfully. Nowf,
Thus urged, Matt informed her friend that
on two occasions, out Of curiosity, she had
followed her guardian on his nightly pill
grimages, and watched him go in the direc-
ten Of the DEVILS Caldron. On both occa-
sions the night was very dark. On getting
clear Of the coastguard station, and among
tho sandhills, Jones had lighted lantern
which he carried Trembling and afraid, she
had followed the light along the cliffs, then
out among the sandhills. But all at once the
light and its bearer had disappeared into the
solid earth, leaving her to find her way home
In terror.
Tho explanation Of all this was, in Mats
opinion, very simple. William Jones was a
bad man, and went to "visit the fairies"
'Yes" she cried, land every time he goes
the fairies give him summat, and he brings
it home"
Each time you followed him." asked
Brinkley, thoughdully, 'he disappeared at
about the same placer
Eyes" said Matt; land the light and him
sunk right down and never come up again"
The result of the information thus commu-
nicated was to leave the young man Of the
caravan far more curious than ever. He de-
termined to turn the tables on William Jones,
and to watch his movements, not in the day
time, but during the summer night, waiting
for his appearance in the immediate neigh
borhood of the Devils Caldron.
The first night he saw nething-it was
stormy, Nth wild gusts Of rain The second
night was equally uneventful. Nothing
daunted, he went for a third and Last time,
and lay in the moonlight on the cliffs, looking
toward the village.
The night was dark and cloudy, but from
time to time the moon came out with SUI iden
brilliance on the sea- which was gently stirred
by breeze from the land.
He waited for several hours. About mid
night lie rose to go horne. As he did SO he
was startled by the sound of oars. and, lying
down, perceived a small boat apDroa hing on
n silver patch of moonlit sea. The occupant
of the boat was a solitary man.
1t approached rapi lly, making direct for
tho Devils Caldron. Lying down on his face
and peeping over, BrinlSlcy saw it stop short
just out 5de the foaming passage, while the
man stood up, stopped, lifted sometime
heavy from the bottom, and threw it over
board Them after watching for moment
dark object which drifted shoreward, right
into the Caldron, he rowed away until he
reached sheltered creek close to the scene of
the swimming adventure. Hero he ran the
boat ashore and leaped out.
The next minute Bripkley heard him COM
ing up the cliffs
Trembling with excitement he lay down
fat on his face and waited. Presently the
man EMERGED on the top of the cliffs, within
a few yards of Brinkley's hiiing-place. Just
then the moon flashed brightly out, and
Brinkley recognized him!
1t was William JONES' carry ing on his Shout
ders something like a loaded sack, and dang
ling from his left wrist horn lantern
He looked round once or twice and then
hurried toward the sandhills. Brinhley fol-
lowed stealthily TIE moon now went in,
and it became pitch dark. Presently Jones
paused, set down his load, and lit the lantern;
then he hurried on.
For fifty or sixty yards n coarse carpet of
greensward covered the cliffs; then the sand
hills began. Passing over the first sandhill,
Jones disappeared. Quick as thought the
young man followed, and peering over, saw
the light in the hollow beneath; it rose higher
and higher till it reached the top of the next
sandhiil, where itpaused. Crawling on hands
and knees, Brinkley slipped down into the
hollow and then crept upward halfway up
the mound; he found a huge rock behind
which he crouched and peeped
As he did so William Jones, light in hand.
seemed to dive down into the solid earth and
disappear.