The Wichita daily eagle., 1893-09-28

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man going to work at the mine. He
may have had more than one name, but
he told the driver that he was known
as Jack, and that seemed to satisfy the
man who handled the lines. They were
delayed by an accident until darkness
came on, and then they decided to camp
until morning in the pine woods. The
horses were unhitched and the two men
spread their blankets and lay down.
1t was their intention to sleep, but
somehow their eyes were wide open,
and the drowsy god refused to como
their way. The strain had been very
great on both, and nervous condition
was the result. And as they lay there,
looking up at the branches of the pines
that glowed red from the freight
against a sky Of inlzy blackness, there
to cause the prickly needles to move
against one another and produce a
sound like tho distant moaning Of the
ocean. Mike heard the sound, and
listened to it in the hope that it would
soothe his mind and cause sleep.
He paid particular attention to the
change produced by every breath OF
fresh air, and gradually became con-
scious of an increase in the volume of
sound. It seemed to rise from the little
breaker falling on the shingle to the
giant wave dashing against cliff be-
fore the fury of the hurricane. At first
Mike thought that sleep was coming
and tried to help it along by continuing
the thought, but as the sound increased
he sat up and looked into the darkness.
He could see nothing. The sound
grew louder: and he could hear the
cracking of breaking branches. Jack
also heard the sound, and both got up
thoroughly alarmed. The horses were
shaking like leaves, showing plainly
that they were listening to a sound
they did not understand.
Louder and louder, until it had BE-
come a roar that was all around them
and gradually coming nearer. At first
Mike thought it might be storm, but
there was absent that weird, whistling
sound always an accompaniment to a
storm in the pines. But what it was
couId not be determined, and each mo-
ment it became more terrible
Lets rum" said Jack.
''That's good advice" replied Mike,
"but which way?"
This was the worst of the mysterious
sound; it seemed to be all round them
at the same time and it could not be
told where it came from One moment
it came from the clouds. the next it was
near their feet, and by thought it
came from all sides.
Suddenly it struck Mike that it was
thought it strange that there was no
barking or growls-nothing but the in
cessant rumbling and cracking. The
strain was becoming too intense, and
Mike concluded to hitch up and be
ready to leave. He threw several sticks
on the fire and then went for the horses
while Jack got the harness in shape.
The animals were anxious to go, but
before the harness was over their backs
Mike heard a branch crack just behind
him. He pulled his revolver and fired
where the sound came from. This only
increased the roaring sound until it was
deafening. and an occasional hiss could
be heard.
Let us hurry and get out Of this"
was all each man could say to the other,
as they backed the horses into position.
But it was too late
Before they could realize what had
happened the cracking and roaring
was just beside them. Mike looked all
around and on every side he saw dozens
of strange creatures 4 close look coz
vinced him that they were mountain
terrapins. He had seen them before.
but singly. and looked upon them as
harmless
Bu; here was new side to the ami
mails nature. for these were ferocious
and OF extraordinary size. Those geney-
ally seen on the deser. of Arizona are sell
a.on over two feet long, but many Of
these would measure four The crea-
tures come up from the gulf of Califor-
MIA, and often speud years in tie 6es-
crt They carry water with them Ike
q camel, and after il is gone they seen
TO be able 20 get along without IL
They have been seen coo miles from .t1c
gulf. and they must frequently bcsea8
away from their element
These We're the animals that now
threatened the two men, aud in an in
slant il went through Mixes mind Tia: