Part 37 (2/2)

”No, he's not there.”

”Then, what in h.e.l.l are you back here for?”

”Bud sent me,” answered Jake; ”he said to tell ye they've gone into the Lucky Chance, and what do ye be thinkin' o' that?”

”The Lucky Chance!” exclaimed Pete, ”then there's some diviltry a goin' sure, for the old man, he don't let n.o.body into that mine 'thout he's along; and if that Van-what's-his-name ain't down there he's right here, that's all, and here I stays.”

”And me and Bud, we're to watch out for the boss?”

”Yes, lay for 'im and overhaul 'im, and find out what the divil is goin' on.”

”I guess he's a pretty tough feller to handle, from all I've heerd,”

remarked Jake reflectively.

Pete responded with an oath. ”Knock 'im silly, he'll be easy 'nough handlin' then.”

”Ye don't mean for to do 'im up, do ye Pete?”

”Well, I guess n.o.body'd feel very bad if ye did.”

Jake went down the road, and Pete was alone once more. After waiting a while, he determined to ascertain, if possible, whether there was any one within the cabin. As he approached the door, there was a low savage growl from the faithful watcher within. Very stealthily he tried to open the door, but it was locked, and in response there was such a furious onset upon the other side, accompanied by such fierce growls, that he started back involuntarily.

It was nearly twelve o'clock, and Pete was growing desperate, and anxious to put an end to his long watch. He retreated to the road, and stood looking at the cabin, trying to decide whether he should break in the window and shoot the dog, and run the risk of being shot in return by whoever might be concealed within, when his attention was suddenly arrested by a strange sound, as of heavily m.u.f.fled footsteps close behind him. He turned quickly, and in the starlight beheld a sight that seemed to chill the blood in his veins. Not more than fifty feet distant, and slowly approaching him, were the spotted horse and his ghostly rider.

Every detail was perfect, like the description he had often heard given by others who had seen the frightful apparition: the man dressed in his miner's clothes, carrying the empty bag from which the gold had been stolen; his face ghastly white, and the blood streaming from his breast, while horse and rider were partially shrouded by a white covering which floated from behind them.

Nearer and nearer came those strange footsteps, closer and closer the fearful sight, and still Pete stood, as if turned to stone, his eyes starting from their sockets, his hair rising, but unable to move or speak.

Suddenly a long, low groan issuing from the ghastly lips seemed to break the spell, and with one terrible shriek, Pete gave two or three bounds out of the road, and ran for his life, jumping and leaping over the rocks and through the brush, like a wild man.

The ghost gave a low, rippling laugh of satisfaction, and turning the horse, rode rapidly back in the direction from which it had come, until striking the road from the house to the mines, where the horse trotted briskly for some distance, but on nearing the mines, once more resumed his funereal pace.

The two men concealed in the brush along the road had no warning of the approaching phantom, until they caught the sound of the strange footsteps, and peered cautiously out, only to see the fearful sight that Pete beheld shortly before.

”Holy Moses!” exclaimed Jake, with a yell, ”it's the ghost!” The men jumped simultaneously into the road, and started for the miners'

quarters, screaming like maniacs. The ghost followed in swift pursuit until they were some distance past the mines; the men then being safely disposed of with no danger of their return, it turned slowly in the direction of the Lucky Chance mine.

Houston and his friends, having accomplished their task, stepped forth from the tunnel into the starlight, looking carefully and searchingly in every direction.

”There is no one to be seen at present,” said Houston in low tones, ”they may be concealed about here, or we may meet them on the road to the house.”

”Very probably,” Jack replied, ”we must now proceed with the utmost caution. Mr. Van Dorn and I will accompany you to the house, and he had better then go with me to the cabin, in case there should be spies watching for our return, and it will be safer for him to remain there until nearly daylight, as none of the men will be out at that time, and he can return to the house un.o.bserved.”

They had gone but a short distance, however, when, pa.s.sing around a curve in the road, they beheld a sight that filled them with astonishment.

”Shades of the departed!” exclaimed Houston, ”what kind of an apparition is this?”

<script>