The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-05-11
OUR PHANTOM GUIDE.

away Say Hugh, whatever are we to do
after loosing our way in this fashion?''
Hugh Mcclure and had been shooting
over Perthshire moor and dallying toe
long after game had been caught in the
descending night and the far more I'M
pleasant descending ranstorm.
"Blest if | know answered Hugh,
wading his way out of mudhole and
shaking himself like huge Newfoundland
dog.
Scents, | can guide you to place of
shelter" said a deep, hollow voice beside
us. We both sprang back for there but a
few feet away, stood a horse and his rider
the dark mass being partially distinguish
around.
That horseman should be in a place
where it was difficult for pedestrian to
get a secure footing was strange enough in
all conscience, but that he should have
apparently risen up among us without any
warning whatsoever was stranger still.
GLOW did you ever steer your horse
down here?" Iqueried in tone that |
tried to make one of surprised pleasure,
but miserably failed in the attempt.
81 have lived on the borders of this moor
all my life," replied the voice, and my
horse knows every foot of the way since he
was foal.
This explanation was satisfactory enough
for men in desperate circumstances. Hugh
and thanked him for his proffered services
and requested him to lead the way. We
sought to obtain a glimpse of his features,
but they were wrapped in the invulnerable
gloom of the night.
As he passed | noticed that his horse
was very tall one and that its eyes shone
through the darkness like the eyes of a
gigantic cat, but with far more uneapthly
and ferocious light than that of the dooile
primalkin curled up before the fire, speou
lating profoundly on the rise and fall OF
stock in the rodent market.
The horseman rode short distance in
advance, holding in his beast occasionally
to enable us to catch up. 1t was hard
task to do so. The rain was descending in
torrents across the moor. At every step
we sank above our boot tops and often
almost to our knees.
vivid flash of tightening shot acrss our
way. For an instant the features of our
mysterious guide and the form of his steed
were revealed. He was half turned in his
saddle and was glancing back at where we
were laundering behind. His face was
like the face of skeleton covered over
with tightly drawn skin, through which
two malicious eyes cleaned with a vindictive
ness that was startling in its intensity
Over his form and over that of his horse
were cast some long robes that looked like
the trappings of funeral car, the horses
head being enveloped, save for two eyelets,
through which it surveyed us with the
blazing eyes of an unbroken mustang. The
rider wore tall hat like those worn by
our forefathers 100 years ago and. with
something fastened around the brim that |
could have sworn was bow of Grape.
For mercy sake, stop, Hugh" | cried
holding his arm. "Did you see that fellows
face? | do believe he is no living man.
Not of our world anyhow
Hugh Mcclure was as practical a Scotch
man as ever failed to appreciate joke or
pass an examination in Edinburgh Uniyer-
sity.
Through the Opaque night l could feel his
whitening glance of scorn as he made
answer: eff you want to talk of ghosts in
the middle of this forsaken spot in this
beastly weather. you can do so, Percy, but
you shant have me for an audience, and he
forged on, calling to our guide:
lin the name of wonder, howIlong will
it be before you can steer us to the world
again?"
The hollow voice came echoing back:
Zone mile to the right is a cottage where
we can find shelter. Come on"
"a mile of this!' walled Hugh. sob,
my sins have been many, but what | suffer
to night should atone for alln'
We. had however, passed the worst
portion of our journeying, and the footing
now became more secure. Still the rain
descendde in Sheets and the wind blew
with force that oftimes threatened to
sweep us off our feet.
Like far distant star at length we saw a
light ahead. 1t appeared, then disappeared
then appeared again.
I'VE will reach it soon now"
''What mean fellow not to offer us a
lift on his horsen' grumbled Hugh. 81
certainly have enough trouble to keep my
own footing not to have to guide horse
over these bottomless holes but he might
have been civil enough TO make the offer
anyway"
We were now proceeding over the soft,
damp turf of the moor, and had frequently
stopped from time to time to feel if the
horse left any tracks behind him. Not the
trace of track could find.
Hugh" whispered, "that horse is
leaving no tracks behind him."
DO stop ) our ghost stories, said Hugh
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