Year: 1878

New York Times.


There were six of us seated before a
blazing fire, which cast generous glare
into the otherwise unlighted room, Out
side winter storm beloved over the
chimneys, and beat seriously at the win
dow-panes. Afar off we could hear the
gust roaring among the naked hills, now
plunging shrilly through the skeleton
branches of the trees, and again whirling
overhead with weird shouting sound
that might well have proceeded from the
throats of evil things riding upon the
wind. The ghostly spirit of the storm
seemed TO have penetrated even into eur
comfortable circle, for we got, | know
not how, upon the most dismal of all
subjects--death.


We had canvasscd the theme pretty
thoroughly before we discovered that
two of our number, the Professor and
the Doctor, had taken no part in the con.
versatiOn. They we're sitting a little re.
moved from the rest of us, gazing gloom
lily into the fire. Their ordinary cheer.
full expression of Countenance had given
place to a sober, troubled look, and more
than once we had detected the exchange
of strangely significant glance between
them.


AS may be readily supposed, we were
not slow to press them for an explanation
of their conduct. But for a considerable
time our efforts were fruitless. At length,
after much persuasion, it was the Pro-
fessor who spoke


"Gentlemen," said he gravely, no man
cares to gain for himself the reputation
of a liar or a maniac. Yet that is ex-
actly what you are pressing both of us
to do. | have no doubt that the expert.
ence which ! am about to relate, and in
which my friend the Doctor bore no
unimportant part, will appear absolutely
incredible to persons of your advanced
views"


There was touch of sarcasm in the
worthy Professors tone, but in our eager
ness to hear his story we found it con-
venient to disregard it.


However" he continued, "I shall
risk it. If you choose to disbelieve it,
why | shall endeavOr to have charity for
your ignorance and conceit. Now, Doc
tor, if you will hand me the tobacco and
one OF the pipes--the ranker and blacker
the betler--l will proceed"


Having filed his pipe, and settled
himself comfortably in his chair, he be.
gan thus:


1T must be fully ten years ago that
the Doctor and myself were engaged
upon a geological survey of the northern
part of this State. We had Iab0red dill
igently during the summer and fall,
when toward the close of cold Novem-
ber day we shouldered our knapsacks
and turned our faces homeward.


"Our way led through chain OF
black and rugged hills toward frontier
town, twenty miles distant where we
intended to take the railroad. A more
forbiddihg region it has never been my
misfortune to see. 1t was chaos, black
ened and warped by primeval fires, and
destitute OF the smallest trace of vege-
tation. Tall cliffs lowered thousand
feet above our heads, shutting out the
light of the dull November sky. Slug
gish streams filtered between crevices in
the rocks, and poured noiselessly into
the deep and motionless turns. 1t seemed
that the blight of death had fallen upon
the whole country.


"Well knowing the peril OF attempt
ing to proceed through such a region
after nightfall, we halted at sunset, and,
building fire at the foot of crag, dis
posed ourselves to rest as well as we
might. Exhausted with the tolls Of the
day, the Doctor was soon asleep, and |
was not long in following his example.


How long | slumbered | knew not,
when l found myself sitting upright,
peering nervously in the darkness around
me. It seemed to nle that some one had
uttered a wild, appealing cry in the very
portals OF my ears. For some moments
i sat so, wondering and anxious Then
reflected that, rs there could be no
human being in the neighborboOd but
ourselves, the sound which had alarmed
me must have been The shrek of some
bird or animal. Explaining the matter
thus, | was on the point OF lying down
again when | was arrested by repeti-
tion OF the cry. This time there could
be no mistake. Wild, long, and, it ap-
peared to me, full Of intolerable anguish,
il re echoed among the crsgs with fear
full shrillness. With an uncontrellsb.e
start, turned and shook the Doctor to
awake him.


"'Be quiet" he muttered; "I am
awake and heard it ALL


What can it be ?" / asked anxi0usly;
"surely nothing human; no one lives in
this region for miles around. Perhaps
it is a wildcat


Ono he said, between his teeth
'sucn a sound never came from the
throat of a wild. cat. There it is again,
Listenl'


"The cry was rereated. 1t was q
womsn's voice, but it expressed such su.
preme misery as believe woman never
felt before. 1t came ringing up the
gorge with weird and mOuTnful into.
nation that chilled the blood in my