Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1889-03-02

S''N''i i'b bAl lllAN IL OulSlut Ill
story and has naught to do with m,
Well, as | was saying, | had gotte
half way down the hollow when
dropped my stick, and when | stoor
to pick it up, all of a sudden | felt a
some n or something vas behind mt
Il looked round sharp, | can ,e'
you; and sure enough | sees a man
standing looking at me with his hea
all on one side, and somehow | bega
to go cold all over.
"'llullo there.' shouts.
"But he never moved, nor took n
notice; only the mist curled round him
and the wind blew his coat. which wa
unbuttoned, about.
"'llullo, there, hullo!' | shouted on
again, and louder.
"But he stood there just the same
"'lIullo-hullo.-Hul-'
But somehow | got so skcered a
the echo Of my own voice, | stopped
short and stood there shaking like ;
poplar. | did not like the looks O
him, he was that unnatural. Then
noticed that Bob, my dog. had gone or
and was out of sight; and ! whistlet
for him smartly, you bet. Up he comes
with a chatter, but the moment h,
see the man beyond me he gives d
long, unearthly howl, and sets off with
his tail between his legs as hard as he
can pelt. Then | can tell Won | 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 YOU?
Where are you from? Where are you
boundy 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 il the neck was broken.
THAT settled me properly and |
made up my mind for a run for it, and
on | moves down the path, looking
back and taking my eyes off
him, Sure enough he began to walk
on too, rolling his head slowly and
swinging his arms, but always lust
the same distance behind, and never
making no noise or call. | tried TO
shake him off over and over again:
but fast as 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 i did, and he never
came higher by even a gard.
eff ever wished myself at home it
was then, and | shall never forget the
horror of that twilight walk in the
mist with that awful thing. think |
should have had a fit, or something,
but for the fear that the boggart. or
whatever il was, would jump on to me.
so kept on somehow, wondering how
it was to end, and presently | 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
it and over to Gearstones. for | felt
certain the thing with its loose head
and arms could lever get up that path
after me-. | walked slowly till | came
right opposite the cliff face. keeping
my eye well on the fellow. Then |
stopped dead short, and he did too.
"'Hullo. there | shouts, in a sort
OF desperation. you must keep straight
on down this track il 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 Il 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 moo again, and before |
could wink or rub my eyes he disap-
pearcd 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 If you, gentlemen. was TO
offer me "a flyer apiece this blessed
minute, | would none gan over yon
Fell tonight; no, nor any other night.
either"
There was dead silence when Job
finished, and we. his hearers, pulled
on in meditativo fashion. cycling each
other surreptitiously to hcte 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:
"Cloasing tonne, lads"
The occupants of the settle began to
bestirthemselves. Mugs were drained
to the last drop; there was Il great
shufiling OF heavy boots. Il chorus of
meet ALL" clicking of the latch, an
thrush OF cold air which made the
candles splutter and flare, "A slamming
of Il heavy door, and we were alone in
the kitchen with John Newbould and
his buxom wife.
"What is all this story which Job
has been telling us"
NAY, you must not ask me; all |
know is he came dashiny in here one
night scared out of his wits almost. and
swore he had seer Il barghest or m
thing on the moor, just a. he has told
tonight"
WAS he drunk?"
"Never II bit, I'll take my davy, He
is "A ~steady-going sort always, is job;
and ] can't make head or tail Of it my
SELF
'But you don't surely believe he did
see this thing except in fancyp"
81 won't 90 for to say that either,
for there are a sight OF rum things as
no one II understand or fathom, and
may be this is just n Of them. Any