The Banner-Democrat., 1901-08-10

;nx vociferously at the mules, as they
slowly moved over their daily route. In
spite Of all his precautions, one beast
calmly laid down at the steepest part OF
the first pitch. Joe was compelled to
remove the pig-freight and clumsy pack
saddle before the ezring mule could re-
g1in an upright position. In the first
place. the train had started late; this de-
lay and the uncommon dcliberateness OF
the whole string Of mules consumed
great deal more time. Joe's stock OF pa
tiencc began to ebb. His ready tongue
poured forth surprising mixture OF
French and English interjections as the
twilight threw gloomy shadows through.
out the silent forest. When the lead
mule topped the final declivity and pass
cd beneath the great pines which stud
ded the plateau it was quite dark NOW
| Toe thought it ample time to use other
means than his voice to urge the slofniui
donkeys onward; so he alightcd from ms
riding animal, gathered a pocketful of
rocks. and mounted again. He had prac-
ticed this method before, and knew fnat
singing blow from stone had IT'S
effect. !,
The very first stone he threw crashed
through the Stats of one Of the pig boxes
and its effect was indeed telling All
the way up the consignment of swine had
emitted scarcely grunt, and such a
piercing squeal, coming SO suddenly
from the stricken Dig, electrified the
staid donkey upon whose back ne was
strapped. AS Joe had prophesied, ze
mule will not pleased be if &c pig squeai
in re ears.
The mule snorted hoarsely; he jump.
cd forward against the one in front OF
him. The pig sqrealed again. q Ter
rife. maddened squeal, that did not die
away. but grew more ear-splitting than
at first. Every mule in that heretofore
snail-like train pricked up its long ears
Those self-same ears must have gather
ed in a great volume of that horrid DIN
for the lead donkey struck out on
numbering trot, closely followed BY tn
other thoroughly alarmed beasts.
Towering pines closely bordered tn
trail pack saddle carie in contact VIII
big tree-trunk, another shrill scream
, ioincd in with the first. The Joltine
{ swaying boxes, with their lusty-iunge'
inmates. fairly shrieked; and the taste
, the mules ambled the more deafenin
waxed the uproar. How those souno
reyerberated through the dim OF
: woods! What unearthly cries dispelle
= their wonted quietude!
Supper was in progress in the loni
g low boarding house at the logging
- Two rows of tired, hungry men wei
i busily making wonderful inroads upe
= China Toms well-cooked viands. La
!, low candles shed dim light upon II
, : table. and frightened UP the ruddy fac
J. of the Grew"
\ Now, Mike, you know there's no SUI
= :. thing as fairies or banshees. Sc wh
h. do YOU spin a yarn like that tor
= "Oi sweer me grandfather hearn wa
4. an didn't he tell me the TRUTH no
nc whin he says he did?'
80 An animated conversation ensued;
r men dearly loved to hear mike ra
- about his queer superstitions, and .argu
=, with him simply for that reason. In
'' heat of the discussion China Tom
80 peared at the door which opened into
~ kitchen. He carried dish OF smokl
-, suet-pudding in either hand. The Nc
"a qolian seemed uneasy; he hesitated
- looked back over his shoulder Some
-, the men noticed that his WHOLE to
-, shook violently Before they had II
:, To saw a word the Chinaman let b.
NJ. dishes fall with crash, his almond e
-, clittered wildly, and he made frar
;ne dash for the door. His queue sal
!, ont behind him in straight line, and
nal he disappeared the men heard gasp
IL Him debbil, sure! He catchee me
ch Whats up with the heathen!
zen some one.
,he Through the chinks of the logs c.
a strange sound. Every man heard
,.. chorus of discordant screams br
ere sharply on their ears. 1t grew lou
,nv louder. A frightful calamity seemed
Ter pending. The main volume split up
og. piercing shrek, apparently borne
the wings. circled about the cabin. Ano
of uncanny cry rent the air from the di
nee t;on of the stables. The woods were
/, !, Of screeching, screaming noises.
fe. "Catamounts yelled burly logs
.ntv "Save me SOUL It's the bans
bem Och, it's the banshee!
-esb The banshee! Did 1t not taiiy
,ers Mikes vivid description OF skurr,
real whistling winds. of terrorizing crie
dire premonitions!
MOS Mike fell upon his knees, pra
was audibly and rapidly. No one direct
the single ieering remark toward the pra
ten Ir;shman. The crews jesting mood
f;ftv vanished; they knew not what exp
ans ron to offer in regard to these unna
the noises.
n as A clatter of hoofs dashed up to
rrcb cabin a heavy body threw itself ag
l,o. the latched door, broke through =
.;r huge man stood before them
;na, morbleu, 1t ees one vera big mees
Joe's zis ting, know.
- ," "Joe holy smokel Man, what
: Of Won been doing?" shouted the SUP
perry tendent. -, :,
the "Ze pigs zat m'sieur wished Il
peri bring up are arrived anu 80 - :,
dis re mules ear, ana &c liiu.e Whs,
ee re Ran away win 'ne p'e'
they now?" .
were "Oh, m sieur, it ees not easy te
, for II ees vera necessaire for US all
ional look" .t
tired A relieved laugn resouio Nh
.ainst the candle-lit dining jim
ire at sheepishly from ms hie
little In short time lanterns m