Omaha daily bee., 1895-08-11

Ing. Inc ldsl gust udl Dttu DlfNcutu ny al
ominous roaring down the whole mountain
SIDE which continued for some time after the
trees in the little valley had lapsed into
silence. The air was filed with a faint, cool
soddon odor-as OF stirred forest depths. In
those intervals Of silence the darkness
seemed to increase in proportion and grow
almost palpable. Yet out of this slghtless
and soundless void now came the tinkle of
spurs rowes, the dry cracking Of saddle
feathers and the mufled plunge of hoof in
the thick carpet OF dust and descated leaves.
Then a voice. which, in spite of its matter-of-
fact reality, the obscurity lent a certain mys-
terry to, said:
81 can't make out anything! Where the
devil have we got to, any way? It's as black
as Tophet here ahead!'
Strike a light and make a fare with
something" returned a second voice. Look
where you're showing to-now-keep your
horse OF, will ye?
There was more mufiled plunging, a silence,
the rustic of paper, the quick spurt of a
match and then the uplifting of Pickering
flame. But it revealed only the heads and
shoulders of three horsemen framed within
nebulous ring Of light that still left their
horses and even their lower figures in i'm
penetrable shadow. Then the flame leaped
up and died out with few zigzagglng sparks
that were falling to the ground when a third
voice-that was low but somewhat pleasant
in its cadance-said
BE careful where you throw that You
were careless last time With this wind and
the leaves like finder you might send fur
mace blast through the woods"
Then at least we'd see where we were
Nevertheless he moved his horse, whose
tramping hOofs beat out the last fallen spark
Complete darkness and silence again followed
Presently the first speaker continued:
II reckon we'll have to wait here till the
next squall clears away the scud from the
sky. Hello! What's that?"
Out of the obscurity before them appeared
faint light-a dim but perfectly defined
square Of radiance-which, however. did not
appear to illuminate anything around It,
Suddenly it disappeared.
That's a house-its light in window"
said the second voice
'House nothing!" retorted the first speaker
"a house with window on GallOper's Ridge,
fifteen miles from anywhere? You're crazy"
Nevertheless from the muiiled plunging and
tinklng that followed, they seemed to be
moving In the direction where the light had
appeared. Then there was pause.
There's nothing but rocky outcrop here,
where a house couldn't stand. and we're off
the trail again." said the first speaker, i'm
patiently.
"Stop!--there It is again.
The same square Of light appeared once
more, but the horsemen had evidently di-
verged In the darkness, for it seemed to be
In a different direction. But it was more
distinct, and as they gazed shadow ap-
peared upon its radiant surface-the out
lined profile Of human face. Then the
light suddenly went, out. and the face van
ished with 1t.
1T is window. and there was some one
behind It," said the second speaker, EN-
phaticay.
at was a woman's face" said the pleasan mt
voice.
Whoever it is, just hail them, so that
we can get our bearings. Sing out. All
together!"
The three voices rose in prolonged shout,
In which, however, the distinguishing quality
or the pleasant voice sustained. But
there was no response from the darkness
beyond. The shouting was repeated after
an interval, with the same result; the silence
and obscurity remained unchanged.
Lets get out of this" said the first
speaker. angrily; house or no house, mar
or woman, we're not wanted, and we'll make
nothing waltzing around here'
"Hush!" said the second voice. SSH |!
Listen"
The leaves Of the nearest trees were tri-
Ing audibiy. Then came a sudden gust that
swept the fronds of the taller ferns into
OF alder over their horses flanks sharply.
It was followed by the distant sea-like roar
ing Of the mountain side.
That's little more like it!'' said the
first speaker, joyfully. Another blow like
that and we're all right. And look There 3
lightneln' up over the trail we came by
There was indeed faint glow in that
direction like the first suffusion Of dawn
permitting the huge shoulder OF the noun
tain, along whose tanks they had been Jour
neying, to be distinctly seem The sudden
breath Of the stirred forest depths was
slightly tainted with an acrid fumc.
That's the match you threw away two
hours ago" said the pleasant voice, dellb-
eratey TITS caught the dry brush in the
trail around the bend"
Anyhow. it's given us our bearings boys -
a ret aIar viii ga al
Were all right now. And the winds lifting
the sky ahead there. Forward. now. all to-
gether, and let's get out of this hell-hole
while we can!'
each horseman could be seen as they moved
forward together, But there was no thinning
OF the obscurity on either side Of them.
nevertheless the profile Of the horseman with
the pleasant voice seemed to be occasionally
turned backward. and he suddenly checked
his horse.
There's the window againw he said.
"Look-there! it's gone again.
Let 1t go!' returned the leader. "Come
on"
Ther spurred forward in silence. 1t was not
long before the wayside trees began to dimly
show spaces between them, and the ferns 10
give way to lower, thick-set shrubs. which in
turn yielded to a velvety moss, with long
quiet intervals of netted and tangled grasses,
The regular fall of the horses feet became a
mere rhythmic throbbinS. Then suddenly a
ei"Sie hooi rang out Sharply on stone, and
the first speaker reincd in slightly.
Thank the Lord, we're, on the ridge now
and the rest is easy. Tell you what though.
boys. now we're all right. I don't mind say
Ing that didn't take no stock In that blamed
corpse light down there. II there ever was a
wiii-o'-the-wisp on square up mountain
that was one. II wasn't no window, Some
OF ye thought ye saw face too? Eh?"
'Yes. and a rather pretty one! said the
pleasant voice meditatively.
That's the way they'd build that sort OF
thing, OF course. It's lucky ye had to satisfy
yourself with looklng Gosh! | feel creepy
yet. thinking of II! What are you looking
back for now like Lots wife? Blamed il
don't think that face bewitchel ye"'
Il was only thinking about that fire YOU
started" returned the other quietly. II don't
see II now"
well. II you dld?"
8 II was wondering whether It could reach
= that hollow"
= II reckon that hollow could take care OF
any casual nat'rel fire thar came boon IN
along. and go two better every time! Why
j don't believe there was any fire-it was ali
piece OF that Internal ignis fatuus phantas-
magorlana that was played upon US down
there!'
With the laugh that followed they started
forward again, relapsing into the silence Of
tired men at the end Of long Journey
Even their few remarks were intertectional
or reminiscent Of topics whose freshness had