The Yale expositor., 1908-03-06

cious whisper. IL was he who led the
way down the bank, the four horses
slowly splashlng through the shallow
water to the northern shore. Before
them stretched a broad plain, the sur
face rocky and uneven, the northern
stars obscured by ridges of higher
land. Murphy promptly gave his
horse the spur, never once glancing
behind, while the other initiated his
example. holding his animal well in
check, being apparently the better
mounted.
They rode silently. The way be-
came more broken and rough as they
advanced, causing them to exercise
greater caution. Flying clouds OBJ
scured the stars, yet through the riffs
they caught fleeing glimpses suffi
cient to hold them to their course.
And the encroaching hills swept in
closer upon either hand, leaving them
cropping their way between as in
pocket, yet ever advancing north.
Finally they attained to the steep
bank of a considerable stream, found
the water of sufficient depth to compel
swimming, and crept up the opposite
shore dripping and miserable, yet with
ammunition dry. Murphy stood swear
ing disjointedly, wiping the blood from
wound in his forehead where the
jagged edge of rock had broken the
skin, but suddenly stopped with a
quick intake of breath that left him
painting. The other man crept toward
him, leading his horse.
What is it now?" he asked, gruffiy.
"Hev' We got ''em agin?"
The dazed old scout stared, point
ing directly across the others shout
der his arm shaking desperately.
It's thar,-an' it's his face! Oh
God!-I know it's year"
The man glanced backward into the
pitch darkness, but without moving
his body.
There's nuthin' out there. less it's
FREELY" he insisted, in a tone of con
tempt You're plum crazy, Murphy;
the nights got on yer nerves. What
is it we think We see?"
His face, tell We! Don't know?
It's all green and CHASTITY. with snaky
flames playin about It! But l know;
Is years, an / amt forgot"
He sank down feebly-sank until he
was on his knees, his head craned for
ward. The man watching touched the
miserable, hunched-up figure compass
sionately, and it shook beneath his
hand, endeavoring to shrink away.
hot
it was him a-reachin' fer me. Here,
let me take yer hand. Oh. Lord! An
can't We see? It's just there beyond
them horses-all green, crawlin', dew
ilish-but it's him.
"Who?"
"Brant. Brant-15 year."
"Brant? Fifteen years? Do you
mean Mai Brant, the one Nolan killed
over at Bethune?"
"He-he didn't"
The old man heaved forward. his
head rocking from side to side; then
suddenly he toppled over on his face,
gasping for breath. His companion
caught him and ripped open the heavy
flannel shirt. Then he strobe savage
ly across in front of his shrinking horse,
tore down the f1aring picture, and
hastily thrust it into his pocket, the
light of the PHOSPHORUS with which it
had been rubbed being reflected for a
moment on his features.
"A dirty, miserable. low-down trick"
he muttered. Poor old devil Yet
I've got to do II for the little girl"
He stumbled back through the dark
ness, his hat filled with water and
dashed it into Murphy's face. Come
on, Murphy! There's one good thing
bout spooks; they don't hang round
fer long at a time. Likely es not this
'un is gone by now. Brace up, man,
for you an have got ter get out o.
here afore mornin'."
Then Murphy grasped his arm ar3
drew himself slowly to his feet.
Don't see nuthin now, do ye?"
mo. Where's my-horse?"
The Stner silently reached him the
loose rein, marking as he did so the
quick, nervous peering this way and
that, the starting at the slightest
sound.
did we say. Murphy, as how II
wasn't Nolan after all who plugged
the MAORI
I'm damned-if | did. Who-ese
was it?"
why, I dunno. Sorter blamed odd
though, tibet ghost should be a-haunt-
in ye Darn If II amt creepy nough
ter make Teller believe most any
thin" ~
Murphy drew himself up heavily
into his saddle. Then all at once he
showed the muzzle of as" into the
others face "Ye say nuther word
bout tibet, an I'll make-a ghost outer
ye-blame lively Now, We shet up-if
We ride with me-"
They moved forward at walk and
reached higher level, across which
the night wind swept, bearing touch