The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-09-23
A NIGHT IN A CAVERN.
BY WALTER CLARENCE.
CHAPTER l.

CHAPTER L
once found myself in that wretched posi-
ton so humorously and pathetically described
by Washington Irving in his Sketch Book,
viz, confined by stress of weather at a coun-
try inn. Fortunately, my rainy day at an
inn" was shared by ha.f dozen other travel
ers; and misfortune when shared by others,
loses half its sting.
1t was in the days Of travelling by stage, and
the ram had fallen so heavily, and for so long
a time that the rivers and streams were swol-
len, bridges were washed away, and the coach
roads rendered in many places impossible.
There was no help for IT. so we philosophical
ly resolved to make ourselves as comfortable
as possible under the circumstances. My
companions in misfortune WERE / believe,
without exception, OF the class known as COM
mercial travellers, or, to give them their more
vulgar appellation, "bagmen," class of men
used to the vicissitudes of the "road, and
from the very nature Of their occupation,
courteous, accommodating, and genial in their
habits and manners.
When the day closed in we seated ourselves
before the ample fireplace, and having called
for the best cheer the house could afford, soon
became so social and cheerful that we forgot
all about the weather, and ceased to vex our
minds uselessly, In consequence OF the I'M
avodable delay.
The song and jest were passed around, and
AS these men generally contrive to collect a
fund of anecdotes in the course of their various
peregrInations, the evening passed rapidly and
pleasantly away. We sat up late, and pre-
,sume ii was the approach of midnight which
ued some one of the party to turn the converse
taon upon the subject OF ghosts. Several re-
lated stories about the appearance of ghosts
which they had heard from others, but no one
present asserted that he had seen ghost him
self and all ridiculed the idea of the reality of
supernatural appearances; all but one elderly
man. who had remained silent while the con-
versation was going forward At length he
spoke.
Gentlemen" said he, Il once, like your
selves, ridiculed the idea OF the appearance Of
ghosts. Almost everybody does though, at
the same time, many who are most persistent
in rdicule would shrink from passing through
a lonely churchyard at midnight or from pas g.
ing the night alone in the vaulted chambers Of
a ruined or deserted CASTLE in fact, from volun-
'tarily placing themselves in position where
according to tradition, apparIuons are most
likely to be met with
IL said once ridiculed the idea of the ap-
pearance of ghosts. / do not mean to infer by
this that am now perfectly satisfied of their
ex stence; but, if you please, l will relate an
adventure which befeil me many years ago,
and what followed it, p edging my word that
will tell you nothing but the truth, and then
leave II to yourselves TO say whether or not L
am justified IN at least doubling, if there be
not more things IN heaven and earth than are
known TO our philosophy.
A general desire was expressed 10 hear the
old gcntleman's story, and, after sitting silent
for some moments, as If to collect his thoughts,
lhe commenced as follows:
CHAPTER IL
'-When 1 was young man of nineteen or
twenty, paid a visit To n friend who resided
at a tOwn on the sea-coast 1t was most 10
mantle spot; beyond the town a lofty range of
cliffs stretched for miles both to the right and
left The sea, at high water, dashed against
the base of these cliffs with laundering
sound which could be distinctly heard in the
town, and which, until became accustomed
to 1t, prevented me from sleeping; but, at low
water, there was a narrow strip of sandy
beach between the base of the cliffs and the
sea. These cliffs were preciptous as well as
lofty, rugged crags in some places julting over
In such a manner as to terrty strangers, and
lead them to imagine that the rocks were
about to fall and crush them The constant
action Of the weather had worn these rocks
into every conceivable shape; and in many
places there were huge, cavernous openings in
the sides of the cliffs which appeared as if they
might penetrate to a considerable distance,
though all that could be dscerned from the
shore was the dark, gloomy opening. Toward
nightfall the seab rds resorted to the cliffs in
great numbers, and, after whlrling for several
minutes in circuitous flight, utterlng the while
the most discordant screams, they would dis
appear into these caves where, doubtless,
they had their nests. Even "a boy, / was
fond of fine scenery, whether of domestic or
romantic character, and nothing pleased me
better than to stroll along the seashore be-
meath these battling precipices; or when the
tide was high, to roam along the rugged path
way on their summit, and lis en- TO the surf
which dashed them, sometimes seeming to
cause them to tremb.e with its mighty force,
.an1 often sending the salt spray in showers,
even to the height at which stood and gazed
Il have observed that was and am fond OF
beautiful scenery; but have a fancy of my
own that different descriptions of scenery re-
quire different conditions of the weather in
order TO be seen to perfection The fields, and
woods, and pasture lands, and the country vii
dage, situated in the fertile valley, with the
pointed spire OF the church, towering above
the surrounding trees; the arm-house, with
Gus barns and Out-houses, and granares-in a
word, domestic scenery of every description
can only be seen to advantage in fair weather,
when ii Is gilded by the bright, warm SUI
shine; but the lofty mountain range, with the
iaggc pinnacles towering above the clouds,
and capped with perpetual snow or the rug
ged, prccipitous cliffs which grid the sea shore
alike romantic and terrible, should be seen
when the wind IL high and the sky is lowering,
when the storm RACES and the thunder rolls
above and around them, and the forked light
ming plays in their midst, in order that their
might and grandeur may be fully appreciated
IL usually chose dark, dull. gloomy day for
my rambles OH the coast, and, on one occasion,
having started earlier than usual, 1 prolonged
my wllk to a greater distance than ever / had
done before. keen southeasterly wind was
blowing, and misty rain was falling when
set out shivered as drew my cloak more
close v around me; but, by walking rapidly,
coon acquired sufficient warmth, and when
reached the seashorc, and stood watching the
angry waves rising and foaming, and rolling
onward in ever-increasing pillows, until they
Broke upon tho beach with a noise like
thunder, and dashed the seething surf against
the ROCKY precipices, while the sea-birds,
frig tened from their nests, rushed out with
discordant screams and circling round seemed
like the spirits that guided the storm, l fell