The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-02-28
OUR PHANTOM GUIDE

ever are we to do after losing U way
In this fashion,"
Hugh Mcclure and I had been shoot.
ing over a Perthshire moor, and dallyine
too long after game had been caught in
the descending night and the far more
unpleasant descending rainstorm.
"Blest if l know" answered Hugh,
wading his way out of a mudhole and
shaking himself like a huge Newfound-
land dog. <
Gents. I can guide You to a place OF
shelter," said a deep, hollow voice be-
side us. We both sprang back, for there,
but a few feet away, stood a horse and
his rider, the dark mass being partially
distinguishable from the darkness of
the night around.
That a horseman should be in a place
where it was difficult for q pedestrian
to get a secure footing was strange
enough in all conscience, but that he
sheuld have apparently risen up among
us without any warning whatsoever
was stranger still.
How did You ever steer your horse
down here?" l queried in a tone that
/ tried to make one of surprised pleas
ure, but miserably failed in the attempt.
II nave lived on the borders of this
moor all my life, replied the voice,
land my horse knows every foot of the
way since he was q foal."
This explanation was satisfactory
enough for men in desperate circum-
stances. Hugh and / thanked him for
his proffered services and requested him
to lead the way. W. 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 q very tall and that its eyes
shone through the darkness like. the
eyes of a gigantic cat, but with a far
more unearthly and ferocious light
than that of the docile grimalkin curled
up before the fire, specializing profound
ly on the rise and fall of stock in the
rodent market.
The horseman rode a short distance
in advance, holding in his beast occa-
sionally to enable Us to catch up. 1t
was a hard task to do so. The rain was
descending in torrents. The wind howl
ed and whistled across the moor. At
every step We sank above our boot tops
and often almost to our knees.
A vivid fash of lightning shot across
our way. For an instant the features of
u 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 be-.
hind. His face was like the face of q
skeleton covered over with tightly
drawn skin, through which two mali
cious eyes CLEANED with a v~indictiveness
that was startling in it's intensity. Over
his form and over that of his horse were
cast some long robes that looked like
the trappings of a funeral car, the
horses head being also enveloped, save
for two eyelets, through which it sur
veyed us with the blazing eyes of an
unbroken mustang. The rider wore q
tall hat 4 X those worn by our forefa-
theirs 100 years ago and with something
fastened around the brim that I could
have sworn was a bow Of Grape.
For Gods sake, stop, Hugh!" /
cried, holding his arm. Ibid you see
that fellows face? / do believe he is no
living man. Not of our world anyhow"
Hugh Mcclure was as practical a
Scotchman as ever failed to appreciate
a joke or pass IN examination in Ed
inburgh university.
Through the Opaque night / could
feel his whitening glance of scorn as he
made answer. 'If you want to talk of
~ ghosts in the middle of this God for
saken spot in this heaven condemned
weather, you can do SO, Percy, but you
shan't have me for an audience" and
he forged Oh, calling to our guide:
I'm the name Of the first pilot, how
long will it be before you can steer us
to the world AGAIN."
The hollow voice came echoing back:
lone mile to the right is a cottage
where we can find shelter. Come onl"
"A mile of thisr' walled Hugh. "Oh,
my sins have been many, but what /
suffer tonight should atone for all!'
We had, however, passed the worst
portion of on journeying, and the foot
ing now became more secure. Still the
rain descended In sheets, and2the wind
- blew with a force that ofttirles threat.
ened to sweep us of our feet.
Like q far distant star we at length
saw a light ahead. 1t appeared, then
disappeared, then appeared again.
There 10 the cottage" said our
guide. I'VE will reach it soon now,
What a mean fellow not to offer MS
. lift on bis horse!" grumbled Hugh.
II certainly have enough trouble to
keep my own footing not to have &c
guide q 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 IL the horse left any tracks b,
hind him Not the trace OF q track coulf
find.
hugh" / whispered, that horse i,
leaving no tracks behind him.
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