Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-03-29
OUR PHANTOM GUIDE

dark, and the roadbed seems to have
been washed away. Say, Hugh, what
ever are we to do after losing our way
in this fashion,"
Hugh Mcclure and had been shoot
ing over Perthshire moor, and dallying
too long after game had been caught in
the descending night and the far more
unpleasant descending rainstorm.
"Blest if I know answered Hugh,
wading his way out Of a mudhole and
shaking himself like huge Newfound-
land dog.
"Gents, can guide you to place OF
SHELTER" said deep, hollow voice be-
side US. We both sprang back, for there,
but a few feet away, stood horse and
his rider, the dark mass being partially
distinguishable from the darkness of
the night around.
That horseman should be in place
where it was difficult for a 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.
'tHow did you ever steer your horse
down here?' I queried in tone that
I tried to make one Of surprised pleas
ure, 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 circum-
stances. Hugh and I 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 invulnerabIe gloom of
the night.
AS he passed I 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 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 short distance
in advance. holding in his beast occa-
sionally to enable us to catch up. It
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 flash of lightning shot across
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 foundering be-
hind. His face was like the face of a
skeleton covered over with tightly
drawn skin, through which two mali
cious eyes cleaned with a vindictiveness
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 a funeral car, the
horses head being also enveloped, save
for two eyelets, through which it sur
yeyed us with the blazing eyes of an
unbroken mustang. The rider wore a
Gall hat like 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.
'fFor Gods sake, stop, Hugh!" I
cried, holding his arm. "Did you see
that fellows face? I do believe he is no
living man. Not of our world anyhow. :"
Hugh Mcclure was as practical a
Scotchman as ever failed to appreciate
joke OF pass an examination in Ed
jnburgh university.
Through the opaque night could
feel his whitening glance Of scarn as he
made answer, eff 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 QUIZ guides
''In 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:
sons mile to the right is cottage
where we can find shelter. Come onP'
ga mile Of thisH' walled Hugh. "Ch,
my sins have been many, but what
suffer tonight should atone for allp'
We had, however, pad the worst
portion Of our iourneying, and the foot
ing now became more secure. Still the
rain descended in sheets, and the wind
blew with a force that ofttimes threat
eped to sweep us off our feet.
Like q far distant star we at length
saw a light ahead. It appeared. then
disappeared, then appeared again.
"There is the cottage" said oul
guide. "We will reach it soon now"
"What mean fellow not to offer us
lift on his horse!'' grumbled Hugh.
81 certainly have enough trouble tic
keep my Own footing not to have to
gnide a 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 froin time to time
to feel if the horse left any traoks be-
hind him. Not the trace of a track could
I find.
"Hugh," whispered, "that horse is
leaving no tracks behind him.
EDO stop Your ghost Stories, said
Hugh impatiently. "Anyhow, restrain
them until we get out Of this lost part
Of Scotland. -
After half an hours trudging we
stood before the cabin from whence the
light had proceeded. 1t was a small,
mud walled concern covered with a
thick roof Of thatch. Two little win
dows on either side of the narrow door
had theif shutters up, and through the
Jagged chinks the rays Of strong illu-
animation within shone brightly.
$50 right in and make yourselves at
home. while take my horse to stable, u
said our mysterious guide as he turned
off to the rear OF the hut.
We pushed open tho door. The apart
ment we entered was large one much
larger than the outside of the hut would
lead us to believe, but what astonished
us the most was the luxurious manner
in which it was furnished. Heavy tap
estries covered the four walls, q thick
Turkish carpet was spread upon the
floor. four chairs of solid mahogany.