The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-05-19

size. 1t seemed to float in the air, rider
less, giving out no sound but a swish
swish. the sad signing of the spirits of the
woods. The waters of Valley Run were
in deep shadow, yet whispering, laughing,
signing to the spirits of the air.
The three guardsmen, speechleSs, re-
manned glued to the spot; while the white
horse of death fioated away, leaving no
sound but the signing of the trees, the MUIR
murs of the waters. Crouched upon the
ground near the base of the oak, they
again waited for morning light. Then the
Captain was let into their confidence, and
requested to stay with them on the post
next night, to which he laughingly agreed.
The night was dark and rainy; the Cap
tain and Tom stood under the protection
of the oak, and there came again the mys-
terious sounds. The darkness was in
tense; one could not see his hand before
him. and yet there was the ghostly noise
The startled owls flew about, bird after
bird, and the frosted leaves overhead be-
gan to fiutter and seemed to mock the
sound that some dying soldier uttered
In few minutes there was nothing but
the raindrops pattering on the ground.
There was no sleep; but going away from
the road a distance in the woods. n fire
was built to charm away the lonesome of
the night"
Great drops came down from the trees,
as if they wept, and where the squirrel
used to skip so nimbly the toads were
shivering and the lizards crept, and cob
webs hung about in May tangle i'll those
damp woods chilly.
The next day the company got hold of
the matter, and ghost stories were the
theme, every man having one or more to
tell The Captain had fallen into the
habit Of going over to Old Johns every
day upon one excuse or another, but gen
orally to see the old man, who was very
sick. Margaret was getting ready to go
to Chattanooga. and he said he would go
with her and get the mail for the COM
pany. They went away together, coming
back just before night; Miss Margaret 60
ing to the stables and putting out her own
ugly brute of a horse. the Captain going
into the house, waited for the mother to
prepare supper, which was soon ready
Going to the camp with the company mail.
he then joined the outpost at Valley Run
Now, boys" ordered the Captain.
there must be no shooting tonight. If
any one must fire his gun, | will be that
one. You. Tom, stay here on the trail,
Bill will go up the valley a few rods and
Dan down on the main road" Thus posted
the Captain went down the run towards
Old Johns, where he found a view no and
down for several rods.
The ripping of the waters was the ONLY
| sound for hours. Then the chatter of owls
began. first low laughs, then swelling out
| into boots and walls. For their nesting
place along the run they seemed to DISPUTE.
the right of man or spirit to the night.
| Dan from his place was first to be star
| tied. An owl sat on limb over his head
and mingled its screeches with the signs
OF the trees. Then to his ears came the
sound, swish, swish The woods seemed
| filled with invisible spirits 1t was too
much for his nerves, and he forgot even
| h dos Sfa
wards the camp two miles away, the owls
hooting and laughing in derision. He gave
full play to his legs. ''Hoo-hoo! ha -hav ~
the owls called after him, freezing the
marrow in his bones. Bill and Tom
Rugged close to the tree, asking its shell
ter as if from leaden hail in the storm of
battle. The Captain, close down by the
ripping water, between the screeching
Of the owls. was startled by the sounds
which so alarmed the men. Swisl-swish
around bend in the run came the sounds
not on the road, but in the water. 1t was
the white horse Of Death" The water
sparkled in the moonlight as the horse
moved almost noiselessly along. 1t was O
moment Of fright for the Captain. the cold
chils chasing the blood out of his BODY
But quickly gaining his senses, he chal
lenged. Halt. there" The ghostly horse
stopped still for a moment only then
sprang out of the stream and up the hill
side. The Captain again cried Halt"
and his carbine flashed. At the same time
came screams of terror from the direction
the horse had taken. Tom and Bill had
caught sight of the ghost as it sprana
away from the water. The Captain free
once, twice, three times, and each tim.
the flashes of his gun mingled with tn,
cries of the ghost as it disappeared up tn.
hillside. The Captain jumped into the wa
ter knee-deep, followed across and mr.
J through the woods. Tom and Bill tried r.
J follow; they searched and called up anf
} down the bank for an hour Then, with q
} feeling of terror at the disappearance OF
the Captain. they, too, started for til.
camp, which they soon had as badly
alarmed as themselves
The Captain went out Of hearing owe,
the hills, guided for time by the cIatteI
of horses hoofs on the loose stones. anG