The Washington times., 1901-09-01

that had been gathering all day burst
forth in its fun fury.
Above all the noisy voices of the ele-
ments the slightest sounds in the room
overhead made themselves heard. and in
the few seconds of deep silence that fol-
lowed the shrek of terror and pain 4 was
aware that the movements had COM
menced again. The men were leaving the
room and approaching the top OF the
stairs. A short pause, and they began to
descend. Behind them, tumbling from
step to step, could hear that trailing
thing" being dragged along. 1t had be-
come ponderousi
l awaited their approach with a degree
of caimness, almost of apathy, which was
only eXplicable on the ground that after
n certain point nature applies her own
anesthetic, and merciful condition Of
numbness superyenes. On they came,
step by step nearer and nearer, with the
, stunning sound of the burden behind
growing louder as they approached.
They were already half way down the
stairs. when | was galvanized afresh into
condition OF terror by the consideration
OF new and horrible possibility. II was
the reflection that If another vivid flash
OF lightning were to come when the
shadowy procession was in the room per-
maps when it was actually passing in
'front.' OF me. l should see everything in
detail. and worse, be seen myself L
could only hold my breath and wait-wait
While the minutes heightened into hours.
ana the procession made it's slow prog
ItSS TOu0u the room.
Inc Indians had reached the foot of the
staircase. The form of the huge leader
doomed in the doorway or the passage.
and the burden with an ominous thud
nad dropped from the last step to the
iioor. There was moments pause while
saw the indian turn and stoop to assist
his companion. Then the procession
moved forward again. entered the room
cioSe on my left. and began to move
slowly round my side of tae table. The
leader was already beyond me, and
ms companion, dragging on the floor be-
iihd nlhd MIN the burden. whose confused out
ihie could dimlSi make out, was exact
iy in front of me, when the cavaIcade
came to dead halt At the same mo-
ment; with the strange suddenness Of
thunderstorms. the splash of the rain
ceased altogether, and the wind died
away Into utter silence.
For the space of five seconds my heart
seemed to stop beating. and then the
lit up the room and its contents with
merciiesS vfvidness.
The huge Indiar leader stood a few feet
past me on my right. One leg was
stretched forward in the act of taking a
step. His immense shoulders were turn
ed toward his companion, and in all their
magnificent fierceness / saw the outline
OF his features His gaze was directed
upon the burden his companion was drag
ging along the floor; but his profile, with
the big aquiline nose. high cheek-bone,
straight black hair and bold chin. burnt
never again to fade.
Dwarffsh, compared to this gigantic
hgure, appeared the proportions of the
other Indian, who. within twelve inches
or my face, was STOPPING over the thing
he was dragging IN a position that lent
to his person the additional horror of
deformity- And the burden, lying upon a
sweeping cedar branch which he held and
dragged by long stem, was the body of
white man. The scalp had been neatly
i1fted, and blood lay in a broad smear
upon the cheeks and forehead.
Then for the first time that night the
terror that had paralyzed my muscles
and my will lifted its unholy spell from
my soul. With loud cry I stretched
out my arms to seize the big Indian by
the throat. and gasping only air tumbled
forward unconscious upon the ground.
I had recognized the body, and the face
was my own,
1t was bright daylight when a mans
voice recalled me to co seriousness. / was
lying where L had fallen. and the farmer
was standing in the room with the loaves
of bread In his hands. The horror of the
night was still in my heart. and as the
biun settler helped me to my feet and
picked up the rife which had fallen with
me, with many questions and expressions
Of coincidence, / imagine my brief replies
were neither self-expls.natory nor even
Ineligible.
That day, after a thorough and fruit
less search of the house. i left the ISL
and, and went over to spend my last ten
came for me to leave, the necessary read
ing had been accomplished. and my
nerves had completely recovered their
balance.
started early in his big boat with my be-
longings to row to the point, twelve miles
distant, where a little steamer ran twice
week for the accommodation of hunt
ers Late IN the afternoon l went of In
another direction in my canoe. wishing
to see the island once again where had
been the victim of so strange an expert
ence.
In due course arrived there, and made
a tour of the island. 1 also made a
search OF the little house, and 1t was not
without curious sensation, in my heart
that l entered the little upstairs bed
room. There seemed. nothing unusual.
Just after l re-embarked, / saw a ca
noe gliding ahead of me around the curve
of the island. A canoe was an unusual
sight at this time of the year, and this
one seemed to have sprung from nowhere.
Altering my course little. watched It
disappear around the next projecting
point of rock. 1t had high curving bows,
and there were two Indians In it. In
gered with some excitement. to see If 1t
would appear again round the other side
OF the island: and In less than five min
than 200 yards between US. and the In
dians. sitting on their launches, were
padding swiftly in my direction.
never padded faster In my life than I
did In those next few minutes. When
turned to look again. the Indians had al
tered their course. and were again circBng
the island.
The sun was sinking behind the for
ests on the mainland, and the crimson
colored clouds of sunset were reflected In
the waters of the lake, when / looked
round for the last time. and saw the big
canoe and it's two dusky occupants still
going round the island. Then the shad-
ows deepened rapidly; the lake grew
black and the night wind blew its first
breath In my face as | turned corner.
and q projecting bluff of rock hid from
my view both island and canoe.-Mger-
non Blackwood in the Pail Mall Maga-
zine.