Woodville Republican. (Woodville, Miss.) 185?-current, 1889-03-16


ing having same words together, and
that was the last time she was ever
seen. He swore, when they asked him
what had become Of her, that he did
know more than that she had left him,
saying that she would not keep COM
pany with him no longer, but take up
with his brother Bib who was prem
tice to Tom Benson, the wheelwright."
"But do you mean to say" inter-
rupted n Of his Mortified hearers,
that the poor girl was never traced
was not Huntpot searchedP"
"Oh ah, there was n bit OF u fuss ut
the time, and some Of the lads Went
up, and Jim Newbault WIS let down
by a rope; but he was nearly drowned,
for there is a big underground beck
empties itself into the pot, half way
down, and it caught him and doused
him rarely until he could not breathe.
1t put his lamp out, too. 80 he could
not see any thing. and he was glad
enough to be up out Of it into daylight
again. And If he had gotten down to
the bottom he would have found moth
ing, for the water Is twenty yards deep
there, and they say it flows out ut One
end into another Underground beck.
aud II a body had gotten in, it 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 it up, all of h sudden l felt as
some one or something was behind me.
II looked round sharp, l can tell
you; and sure enough l sees a man a
standing looking at me with his head
all on one side, and somehow l began
to go cold all over.
"|Hullo there!' l shouts.
But he never moved, nor took no
notice; only the mist curled round him,
and the wind blew his coat, which was
un%buttoned, about.
"lHullo, there, hullo!' I shouted out
again, and louder.
But he stood there just the same.
"'Hullo-hullo!-Hul3
But somehow | got so skeered ut
the echo of my own voice, | stopped
short and stood there shaking like a
poplar l did not like the looks of
him, he was that unnatural. Then |
noticed that Bob, my dog, had gone on
and was out of sight; and l whistled
for him smartly, you bet. Up he comes
with a chatter, but the moment he
sees the man beyond me he gives a
long, unearthly howl, and sets off with.
his tail between his legs as hard as he
a pelt. Then / ear tell you l was
in a proper fright, and thought only
of getting away myself from that
thing as still looking 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, there! What's up with youp
Where are you from? Where are you
boundg l shouted again in despera-
ton.
"The thing never answered a word;
but it slowly lifted its head, and then
let it fall on the other side, Just for all
as If the neck was broken.
THAT settled me properly and l
made up my mind for a run for it, and
off l moves down the path, looking
back and never taking my eyes off
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. l tried to
shake him off over and over again;
but fast as | went he kept up, and
when l slowed he slowed too. Once
or twice l 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 l did, and he never
came higher by even a yard.
eff ever I wished myself at home it
was then, and l shall never forget the
horror of that twilight walk in the
mist with that awful thing. l think I
should have had a fit, or something,
but for the fear that the boggart, or
whatever it was, would jump on to me.
So | kept on somehow, wondering how
it was to end, and presently l saw the
front of Eagles cliff looming up on the
left. The sight of it put a sudden idea
into my head. | would scramble up
and over to G~earstones, for I felt
certain the thing with its loose head
and arms could never get up that path
me. l walked slowly till l came
opposite the cliff face, keeping
my eye we'll on the fellow. Then l
dead short, and he did too.
"'Hullo, therer / shouts, in a sort
of desperation, 'youmust keep straight
down this track If you want to get
to the village, there's no other road
HE never spoke, only the head fell
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
jackdaws 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 Seeiby moor and five miles
round home; but | got home safely at
last and mighty thankful, too.
you, may be, think I am CANNON
ing you; but | tells you honest and
fair, that If you, gentlemen. was to