Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1889-05-15

up, and Jim Newbault was let down
by rope; but he was nearly drowned,
for there is a big underground beck
empties itself into the pet, half way
down. and it caught him and douscd
him rarely until he could not breathe.
IL put his lamp out, too, so he could
not sec any thing. and he was glad
enough TO be up out OF it into daylight
again. And il he had gotten down to
the bottom he would have found moth
Ing, for the water Is twenty yards deep
there, and they say il flows out at one
end into another underground beck,
aud il body had gotten in, IL would
have been sucked down with the
stream. But all this is outside my
story and has naught to do with me-
Well, as | was saying, had gotten
half way down the hollow when ]
dropped my stick, and when | stoops
to pick il up, all of Il sudden | felt as
some one or something was behind me.
IL looked round sharp, | can tell
you; and sure enough | sees man a
standing looking at me with his head
all on one side, and somehow | began
to go cold all over.
"'Hullo therc!' | shouts.
but he never moved. nor took nc
notice; only the mist curled round him,
and the wind blew his coat, which was
unbuttoned, about.
"'Hullo, there. hul!o!' shouted out
again, and louder.
''But he stood there just the same.
'Hullo-hullo!-Hul-'
But somehow / got so skeered at
the echo of my own voice, | stopped
short and stood there shaking like :
poplar. / did not like the looks oil
him, he was that unnatural. Then
noticed that Bob, my dog, had gone on
and was out Of sight; and | whistled
for him smartly, you bet. Uphe comes
with a clatter, but the moment he
sees the man beyond me he gives a
long, unearthly howl, end sets off with
his tail between his legs as hard as he
can pelt. Then ] can tell you / was
in proper fright, and thought only
OF getting away myself from that
thing as still looking at me with it,
head all down on one side. But you
see / didn't like to turn and run for it,,
and him at my back.
"'Hullo, there! What's up with you!
Where are you from? Where are you
boundp / shouted again in despera
ton.
"The thing never answered u word
but it slowly lifted its head, and then
let it fall on the other side, just for all
as il the neck was broken.
THAT settled me properly and
made up my mind for II run for it, and
off | moves down the path, looking
back and never taking my eyes of
him. Sure enough he began TO walk
on too, rolling his head slowly and
swinging his arms, but always just
the same distance behind, and never
making no noise or call. | tried &c
shake him off over and over again;
but fast us | went he kept up, and
when / slowed he slowed too. Once
or twice tried stopping dead, think
ing he would, may be, pass me, or AT
least come nigh enough for me TO see
him palmer, but no, he was always
ready to stop when did, and he never
came higher by even a yard.
''If ever wished myself ut homo it
was then, and | shall never forget the
horror of that twilight walk in the
mist with that awful thing. ] think |
should have had IL fit. or something.
whatever it was, would jump on TO me.
So kept on somehow, wondering how
it was t. end, and presently | saw the
front of Eagles cliff looming up on the
left. The sight of il put ~ sudden idea
into my head. | would scramble up
it and over to Gearstoies. for | felt
certain the thing with its loose head
and arms could never get up that path
after me. | walked slowly till came
right opposite the cliff face, keeping
my eye we'll on the fellow Then
stopped dead short, and he did too.
"'Hullo, theren l shouts, in sort
OF desperation, you must keep straight
on down this track if you want to get
to the village, there's no other road
HE never spoke, only The head fell
over to the other side. Then ] made
a dash for it, tore madly over "a bit OF
moss there is, and was twenty feet up
the cliff among the startled, swearing
iackdaws before dared to look around.
| could have yelled with joy, for there
was that unholy figure a-going slowly
up on the moor again, and before
could wink or rub my eyes he disap.
peared in the mist.
"Well, did not come down TO the
path again, you may be sure, but took
up over Sceiby moor and five miles
round home; but | got home safely at
last, and mighty thankful, too.
you, may be, think | am CANNON
ing you; but | tells you honest and
fair, that il you, gentlemen, was to
offer me u flyer apiece this blessed
minute, would none gan over you
Fell tonight; no, nor any other night,
either"
There was dead silence when job
finished, and we, his hearers, pulled
on in mcditative fashion, cycling each
other surreptitiously to note the effect
of the narrative. Then mine host
arose, and knocking out the ashes
from his pipe against the TOP bar Of
the CRATE, said tersely:
Choosing tonne, lads"
The occupants of the settle began to
bestir themselves. Mugs were drained
to the last drop; there was great
shutting OF heavy boots, "a chorus Of
meet ALL" a clicking OF the latch, ar
thrush OF cold air which made the
candles splutter and flare, u slamming
Of n heavy door, and we were alone in
the kitchen with John Newbould and
his buxom wife.