Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-02-05
A MOORLAND MYSTERY.


against the windows, and bowling ansrily
round the ch4nneys Of the little inn at Sci
side
But il the evening was dark and stormy,
and things outside were cherries. the kitchen
Of The MoorcockH was coy picture OF
warmth and brightness A mighty fire
blazed in the wide. open fireplace, and sent
long trails OF sparks and great curls of smoke
roaring up the huge chimney. Its light
danced upon the timbered ceiling. across
which long ropes of onions and bundles OF
dried herbs were artistically festooned; it
dashed upon rows Of pewter plates and dishes
On the old def rack on the wall and lighted
up the brass face Of the old clock in its lark
corner, as it licked solemn accompaniment
to the titful snoring Of golden tan sheep
dog which lay stretched out upon the brick
floor in front Of the hearth. One side Of the
room was taken up by deep, old fashioned
settle, with sloped back, and an end which
curved round so as to shut out the back door
into the garth" or yard On this bench
some half dozen natives were seated, putting
stolidly at their long clays, which were peri
odically withdrawn from bucolic lips to
allow of the application Of the quart mugs
which stood in regular sequence upon the
wooden table in front.
Two tall rocking chairs were drawn up on
the opposite side Of the kitchen, in which we
two storm bound rovers were comfortably
ensconced. And highly picturesque figures
we made, clad in miscellaneous garments, be-
longing TO mine host" who was himself en-
throned on an upturned cask, and formed
connecting link, as it were, between the
closes" on one side and 1.-The masses" on the
other of his hearth.
4. l. I.t..
up on the Fells"
so reckon. sir Turn-Dub's a dowly
spot o meets when it's doggy tAnglce, mistyl;
Ell, Job tina knaws"
A tall. lean fellow, with the hard, wiry look
OF Yorkshire dalesman, gravely nodded
and muttered;
I'D moan gan over t'neet not fur ten
pund
All thee had onst rum soart on a thing
happen tull'ee,' Quoth his right hand neigh
Dor whose ruddy face was set in a mass Of
bright red whisler. Come, tell t'gen'elmn
ont. they've moan heerd loike ont, I'm
barnd"
After little COY hesitation, which gave
way when our order to fill up all round
had been carried out. Job Kirkbright shep
herd and factotum told his story, which
being translated from the rugged dialect OF
Craven into ordinary parlance, was much as
follows
Il had sold some ewes over in Littondale
and after getting the brass and taking glass
OF ale to wet the bargain at Tom Masons, |
set off home over the FEELS in good fettle
had my dog. Bob, with me. and we climbed
up Oh the moor and had soon got well on our
way 1t was late in the autumn and the
days were drawing in fastish. but l knew the
path well and so thought nothing much
about the time O day But when | got
right up on Moortop began to see as how it
was coming on misty and so | pushed on a
bit faster, but the fog was coming up with a
Goldfish wind from seward, and soon it had
got all round me and made me feel chilly 1t
did not close in thick, like regular smoth-
erer, you must know, but it kept whirling in
patches then lifting bit and rolling away
up the Fell, but only to concentrating back
every now and then. don't mind as how |
ever heard the wind moan so queerly it was
for all the world as if lot of folks were
grooming and moaning and it made me feel
bit skeery like, and the rocks and powders
looked uncanny with the gray wisps twinng
among them | was main glad, | can tell
you, when | made out Hanging Crag and
knew ! was over the highest point of the
THE path leads down a dip like on the
moor, and l.angton Beck runs alongside for
maybe half mile and then it turns off sud
denly and runs away southwark, to plunge
down into iluntpot-a big sort Of pit which
Is ninety yards deep, and as fearsome place
as you can want to see They say it's haunt
ed with a boggart, ever since a young girl
was thrown in there by her sweetheart nigh
twenty years aGone At least, folks always
sai1 ar how he had showed her down, for they
was seen not far Cd the hole one evening
having some words together. and that was
the last time she was ever seen He swore
when they asked him whet had become Of
her, that lie did not know more than that she
had lief, him, saying that she would not keep
company with him no longer. but tale up
with his brother Bill, who was prentice to
Tom Benson, the wheelwright"
But 90 you mean to say" interrupted one
OF his horrI.ied hearers, that the poor
girl was never traced-was not Huntpot
searched
oh. az, there was bit of a fuss at the
time, and some uf the lads went up, and Jim
Newbault was let down by a rope, but he
was nearly drowned, for there is big under
ground sleek empties itself into the pot half
way down, and it caught him and doused him
lamp out. too, SO he could not see anything
and he was gladly enough to be up out Of It
into daylight again. And il he had gotten
down to the bottom be would have found
Lothing, for tho water is twenty yards deep
there. and they say it flows out at one end
into another underground beck, and II a body
had gotten in it would have bcen sucked
down with the stream. But all this is outside
my story and has naught to do with me.
We'll, as ! was saying, had gotten half way
down the hollow when | dropred my stick,
and as stoops to pick it up, ali of sudden
felt as some one or something vas behind me.
II looked round sharp, can tell you and
sure enough sees man a-standing looking
AT me With lis head all on one side and
somehow began to go cold all over
Htllothere! shouts
But he never moved, nor took no notice.
only the mist curled round him. and the wind
blew his coat, which was unbuttoned, about
Hullo there, hullor shouts ous again,
and louder
But be stood there just the same
Hullo-hullol Hur-
But somehow got 20 skeertd at the echo
Of my own voice, stopped short and stood
there shaking like a poplar | did cot Like
the looks Of hin. he was that unnatural
Then noticed that Bob, my do. had gone
on, and WIS out of sight and whistled for
him srnartly, you bet Up be comes with
CHATTER, but the moment he sees the man be-
yond me, be gives a long, unearthly howl,
and sets off with his tail between his legs as
hard a. he can pelt Then can tell you |
was in proper fright, and thought only Of
getting away myself from that thing as still
stood cooking at me with its head all down on
one side But you see didn't like to turn
and run for it. and him at my back
'Hullo therei what's up with your Where
are you front Where are you boundr /
shouts again in desperation
The thing never answered a word, but It
slowly lifted its bead. and then let it fall \
again on the other side. Just for all as II the
neck were broken
That settled me properly and | made I'D
my mind to try run for it, and of | 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, sd never making 10 noise
or call utAA ~ shake him otY over and
over again. but ~ as went he kept up and
when slowed be bowed too Once or twice
tried stopping dead. thinking be would.
may be, pass me, or at least come nigh enough
for me to see him palmer. but DO, he was a.
ways ready to stop when did. and be never
came higher by even yard
IF ever ! wished myself at home IL Wa
then and shall never forget the horror Of
that twilight walk in the misf nth that {