Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-12-08

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longer they must have seen something
or other TO arouse their suspicious, but
they seemed impatient TO get on.
THANK Godp whispered more than
one man as the horses were heard NOV
ing away.
In half an hour the gold hunters dared
exult and plan. Two men were left at
the wall as lookouts, three or four others
were held as n reserve at the camp, and
the captain, Harkins and Joe set out up
the canyon to search for the cave Of
gold. When the darkness became so in
tense as to interfere with their progress
they lighted torches and o thorough in
spection was made Of both walls.
The canyon extended into the N oun-
tain for a full mile, winding and turn
ing, and long enough before it ended
the pine trees met above it and prevent
ed single ray of light from descending.
Nothing answering the description of
the dying hunter could be found He
had said, ms Harkins understood. "fve
miles to the right Of the peak Here
was the spot. He had described the
mouth Of the canyon and everything
here bore out the description, He said
that Bridger went up the canyon about
mile and then turned into smaller
one running to the left.
There was no such canyon. The loft
bank was solid rock and earth from the
wagons to the spot where the great rift
stopped short at flinty wall thousand
feet high. The mighty wrath had split
tho mountain thus far, but it could go
no farther.
Three times the men Travelled from
the camp to the end Of the canyon, and
then all were certain that Harkins had
been mistaken. They sat down on a
bowlder in the bed of the canyon to rest
and discuss the matter, while the single
torch, secured in cleft, hardly allowed
them to see each others faces.
"Well, we have no right TO complain,
as we have lost nothing" said the cap
tain. Indeed, if we had not slipped in
here not a man of us would now be
wearing his scalp"
Wasn't the old man Eighty in his
last hour asked Joe of Harkins, who
seemed much cast down.
He gave no evidence of it; ON the
contrary, his mind seemed wonderfully
clear to the last"
Perhaps he said to the left instead Of
the right of Clusters peak" suggested
the captain.
mo, l am sure he said to the right,
but he may have meant the left"
Its no use crying over split milk"
laughed the captain.
IF we have lost the cave we have
saved our sculps. I'm inclined to
think the old man misspoke himself.
believe those reneg&des gave this place
a thorough looking over and are now in
the canyon below, If there is a canyon
there. If the cave is there they have
got the gold ere this, and that ends it,
Harkins sat with bowed head. He
had felt 50 sure that old Saunders told
the truth that he hated to give up the
search. There was deep silence for a
moment broken by a whisper from Joe,
Great heavens, but what is that'
They wcro near the wall which formed
the end Of the canyon. Al raised their
heads and looked into the darkness and
saw faint light shining out like a star.
AT the same moment their ears caught
the sound Of many voices chanting in
low tones, and ii strange, weird music
filled the heavy air.
"Hush-sit STILL whispered the cap
tain as Harliins seemed about to spring
up.
Then from the face Of the solid rock
issued forth strange procession of
strange shadowS-Shadows which moved
in double file right past the trio down
into the blackness of the canyon toward
the wagons. The one who led the pro-
cession carried what looked like a BAN
nor. Behind him was one who seemed
TO carry an urn. Then came tour
shadows which bore a bier, and those
who came after had their faces upturned
and We're waiting and chanting.
The men saw and heard and realized,
but We're chilled and poWerless to move.
Can the dead come back TO earth? Do
the ghosts of those who have gone be-
fore gather in the shadows and the dark
ness and hold reunions?
Chant! Chant! Chant!
Out from the solid wall-a wall in
which the sharp eyes Of the gold hunt
ers had failed 10 detect crevice large
enough to conceal a sQuirrel-poured the
strange, queer specters, and down into
the darkness marched the procession.
/ March! March! March!
Their feet kept time TO the wild, weird
chant, but not the sound Of football
came to the ears Of the living. Each
ghostly figure stood out separate and
distinct, but not face could be seen.
I'VE are doomed men" groaned Har-
kins, as he covered his face with his
hands to shut out tho sight.
AYE! We shall never leave this spot
alive" added Joe.
Hush, men" whispered the captain
as he raised his hand. They are dead,
true enough, but they are the dead of a
thousand years aso-of the cave dwell
ers and the Aztoc3. l have seen them
twice before, and they brought no bad
luck. Here they come on the other slider
The three We're seated on rock in the
| center of fine rift Tho head of the