The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-07-09

attention should the renegade Indian be
anywhere near.
From the top of Needle Pass to the
mine it was only about an hours ride in
the daytime and all downhill. When they
got over this point both men felt better,
as they were getting near safe place.
Mike let the horses 60 Oh at a lively rate,
and the light vehicle rolled and plunged
and seemed any moment as if it would &c
into some of the chasms along the road
side. But Mike knew the chasms were
there and on that point there was abso-
Lutte safety.
And so they rolled on for half an hour
when they came 10 blat Of pine tim bel
on a comparatively fiat piece of ground
the horses went in right enough it was
soon apparentLhat they had got off the
road.
Nike maze an examination, but could
not ind the way to 20, and as they were in
a place where it Gas not likely the Kid
would be he said they had better camp
for the night, as it was useless to go ahead
when there was no telling which direction
they were going.
1t is no pleasant thing to be lost In pine
forest at night, and the strongest mind
VIII be startled by every strange sound.
The giant trees are black no matter which
way you look except toward the sky; and
be seen struggling through the dark
branc hes.
But Jack and Mike did not pay any
attention TO the beauties of the scene,
but instead busted themselves with start
ing fire that was soon sending light in all
directions and reversing the effects OF
light AID shade that existed previously.
The horses were nnhitched and the two
men spread their blankets and lay down
1t was their intention to sleep, but some
how their eyes were wide open and the
drowsy god refused to come 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 sky of inky
blacknesS. There was not much wind, but
it was enough to cause the prlckly needles
TO move against one another and produce
a sound like the distant moaning Of the
ocean. Mike heard the sound and listened
TO it in the hope that it would soOthe hi;
mind and cause sleep.
He paid particular attention TO the
change produced by every breath of all
and gradually became conscious of an i'll.
crease in the volume of sound. 1t seemed
to rise from the little breaker falling on
the shingle to the giant wave dashine
against cliff before the fury Of the hurrt
cane.
u
coming and tried To help it along by con.
tnuing the thought. but as the sound in
creased ne 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 1t had become
a roar that was all around him and gradu-
ally coming nearer. At first Mike thought
1t might be storm. but there was absent
that weird, whistling sound always an
accompaniment to storm In the pines.
But what il was could not be determined,
and each moment it became more terrible.
Lets run" said JACK.
That's good advice" replied Mike, "but
which way?"
This was the worst of the mysterious
sound-it seemed to be all around them al
the same time, and it could not be told
where IL 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 1t struck Mike that it was a
herd of wild beasts Of some kind, but
thought it TRANCE that there was no bark
ing or growls-notbng out the lncessanl
rambling and cracking. The strain was
becoming TOO intense, and Mike concluded
to hitch up and be ready to l-ave.
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, buI
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.
Lets hurry and get out of this" wa:
all each man could say to the other as
they backed the horses into position. Bul
it was too late.
Before they could realize what had hap.
pened the cracking and roaring was just
beside them. Mike looked all around and
on every side he saw dozens of strange
creatures. close look convinced him
that they were mountain terIapins. He