Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1906-06-09
By. II. WAITER. BURR.

we come ter the Burnin' Hills. Peers as
though ! could feel the heat right now.
They were now on an eminence command
Ing good view OF the lower hills, and as
they looked down into the darkness they
could see distinctly long lines OF glowing
red, streaking the earth like the trails. of
/ fiery serpents. The redness pulsated like
a thing OF life, and as 1t did so the very
Then suddeHly all was darkness again.
Yer see" she continued, u may be a
coward, an all tibet. Mebbe so. II may a
bin all ghost story, too. But there it is,
an we got ter cross tibet place.
II The brave young man was getting really
scared. He had never before been out In
| the. mountains In. the night time, and the
awful stiffness. broken now and then by
unpleasant sounds peculiar to the mountain
country, awed and frightened him. His
teeth were fairly chattering.
"l-l--wish we had started back sooner"
he managed to say. "I-I-had no idea
II was so bad"
Eyer might had purity good idea," She
answered; but It amt a-goin' to do no
good ter git scared now. Come along
By this time they were nearing the
dreaded place. Suddenly, as she reached
forward her foot to. take step, she realized
roofing as soon as 1t should. A sudden and
uncommon warmth came upward, and In
another instant the faint glow was seen,
brink some three feet away. Leapingacross
she called to her companion, mind yer
eye" They had changed places-she was
now the master and he the slave.
What is ity' he asked, as he neared the
place. Just then he took the fatal step,
and felt himself falling. But the girl was
quick Suddenly reaching out her arm; she
ged him across the chasm,
"Wel, never"' he exclaimed in fright.
That's something awful don't you know
l say are there many more like. thatT
Come on, an quit yer talkin',' was the
pre-emptory order.
"But | say, 1wo-bits. 1t isn't safe, is it?"
he called after her,
II amt afeard," she answered. "lf you
are, why stay where you are, or go back
an find the highest peak"
Blast the little imp" he muttered, 81
, wonder II she's going to go away and
would serve me right, for suppose it's all
my own fault. But really. had no idea
there was any truth in what she said
IeaE Hel,o mo- Tw sIhdn, Don't run away and
his throat something very like a sob.
Look out there!' he heard her call; and
IN the darkness he saw her some FIVE feet
ane s, Of him. Don't try to. walk thar, or
yer'll fall In, sure It's wide, tell yer,
well what will l do?" he asked,
Il can't stay here all night
Mebbe yer could jump across. | did |
but I'm only coward" She was becoming
sarcastic. but not without purpose The |
child was beginning to see that the young |
man would need every incentive she could |
oner to get-him to put forth his best eff |
forts She had no doubt of her own ability |
to clear all, the chasms. but she was quite i
sure that her companion was not accus- |
toned to such tricks. Now he stood like |
a scared child on the opposite side of the |
ditch. IL the situation had not been so |
serious. 1t would have been comical.
well, yer comin'?' she asked ifn-
He stepped back for run. but when he |
came TO the edge again he stopped short |
and looked ruefully at the red glow beneath |
him. He held out his hand and drew 1t |
back suddenly, as he felt the intense heat. |
Then what little courage he possessed for |
sock him, and he began to whimper.
Il Just can't make 1t. Two-bits Whatever |
shall dor
WALL" drawled the matter-of- fact girl. |
Il s'pose could go ahead an git some of |
the fellers from town ter come out an help |
yer across; They'll make no end of fun Of |
yer, though"
"Biast the fun!" he cried. Hurry up
and get me out of this. most anyway"
"All right Stay where you are. and I'll |
be back after a while;'' and she bounded |
away like deer. leaving George Casey
sitting there in the night alone.
Minutes dragged like hours and the dark
ness seemed to grow thicker every moment.
except when 1t was penetrated by that I'M
canny glow from down below. Then, as he