Year: 1877

! would start from my sleep With cry OF
horror as the scene was vividly before
me IN dream. I was young then, ac-
tive, strong and not wanting in courage,
though it may seem like sounding my
own trumpet to say so.


However, to my story.


1t was the oath of December, and l
was going home to spend Christmas day
with my relations. I was going TO start
in time to reach home for friendly
gathering that evening. In the morning,
however, my boss had occasion to drive
over to q village some miles distant. He
was to return by mid day to pay me and
let me start before darkness came on.
But he was detained. When he was
ready to start back, the weather had got
| SO bad that it was with the utmost diff
Guilty lie could make Ills horse creep
along SO, instead of his returning as
promised, it was six o'clock before we
heard the welcome patter of old Kitty's
hoofs coming up the yard. He was near
ly frozen, and when Ireminded him that
| wanted to start, be looked at me in
amazement.


"Why, jack" said he, ssyou never
mean to say you intend turning out to-
nigLt2 Stay till morning they il never
expect you. Why, you'll be blown into
the quarries.


But l was determined to go come what
might. After deal of persuasion he
| paid me, and off started-out in the
bitter cold.


The night was very dark, but the moon
appeared nos and again from behind a
| cloud, the effect being that the darkness
| seemed more intense when she WAS net
| visible.


[ turned to the left, was soon on the
turnpike, and in few minutes the little
town was lest TO sight and-to memory.
Many thoughts kept me from noticing
the darkness. [ could see the bright
room at home, with my old father in his
big arm- chair by the freside F; I saw my
mother go to the door, and in fancy I
heNd her say, 81 hope my poor Jack
isn't out this dreadful nightl'' She
looked so sad that involuntary onick-
encd ny pace. [ saw my sisters and
brothers placing eTergreens round the
pictures and trimming the Christmas
tree.


But my musings were suddenly
brought to q termination, as ] had arriv-
ed at one of the worst parts of my jour
ney. [ had to take a narrow road that
wound itself like gigantic snake around
the rocks and between the innumerable
quarrles that were scattered ali around.
But fear was not foremost in my mind,
SO darted forward boldly on my dan
gerous journey.


The road IS thoroughly dangerous
one to travel upon in broad daylight, for
on either hand for a considerable dis
tance are quarries coming clase to the
roadside, and without anything whatever
to prevent an incautious person from





that project over the road, which seem
to have combined to shut out daylight
on the brightest summer day.


There are huge caverps in these rocks
as though the aborigines had once made
their homes there. Then comes mighty
torrent of water, roaring, dashing, tear
ing, kissing and foaming from the giddy
heights, until it is lost to sight away
down in the ravine. No vegetation is
found here; it is one of those weird, dis
NAL places that seem created especially
for the perpetration of murders. A mel
ancholy. ghostiy light pervades the
place, eve., at midday. The wind shrek
ed as it raced around the rocks, and end
ed in low, heart-rending wall, as it
entered the caverns. Then the moon,
appearing for few seconds, revealed
some curiously shaped rock in the dis
tance, that seemed then to assume the
form of some demon or giant.


1 did not believe in the supernatural,
but in spite of all my reasoning I wish
ed myself at home.


L tried TO sing, but it was DO use-I
had not the heart to make il lively, [
can tell you it was with pleasure when,
on turning sharp corner, I beheld a
few lights in the distance These I
knew to proceed from batch Of cottages
inhabited by quarrymen. Even in this
forsaken spot these men have built their
homes-aye. and they are as dear to
them as your comfortable residences are
. to you city people.


[ remembered there was tavern in
the place, and determined to cali in
and rest.


few inutes brisk walking brought
NE u the door, and l can assure you it
was not long before l was seated by the
side of n blazing fire, surrounded by
about s Dozen big, broad, iovial quarry
men, each SPIN ing his Christmas yarn
il his vn peculiar manner.


I sat listt ming attentively for some
time, when my attention was drawn to
man who had just entered the room. He
was shabbily dressed. though far from
being ragged. He appealed to as for
assistance


did not like his appearance altogeth-
er. He had one of those faces that seem
to inspire the behoider With the idea
that the owner is villain. He had