Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-08-03

THE RATTLESNAXE HUNTER"
BYJ.G. WHITTIER.
sUntl my gha,tiy tale is told
This heart within me burns"
Kline ,fthe iHcieRt Mariner.

,5 tho uoDd fortune to meet singular character,
'r,,yn in many parts of Vermont as the Rattle
.n,ka Hunter. 1t was a warm, clear day nf sun
4 Line in the middle Of June, that | saw him Tor
4 mo first time, while engaged in a mineralosicai
4 ,,m,le sm1nr the hills. Hishead was bald. and
!, Forehead was deeply marked with the strong
& Inc, Of care aad age. His form was wasted aud
o.,cre: and but for the fiery ylgor OF his eve, he
mI,It have been supposed intapactated by aye
,rJ ip6rmities for even a slight eXertion let he
1 huried over the rude hedges Of rock with aquicS
! ,,J slnost youthful tread; and seemed earnestly
/ .,r,bnp among the cresices and loose crags ana
stated BUSHES around him. Ali AZ once. re START
! 81 ,ndIenly-drew himself back with a SORT of
,hnldsrinr rccniI--and then smote tierceiy with
/ NJ. ,alI' unon the rock before him. Annther and
,un,her Now-and he lifted the 1.-THE and crushed
4 form OF large rattlcsnake upon the end OF his
i rud.
The old mans eve sllstened but his lip trem-
bed as he luoked steadtastly upon his vet wrl'h
4 ,nr victim. "Another Of the accursed race"
he muttered between his clenchcd teeth, appa-
emily UNCONSCIOUS Of nv presence.
vas now satisfied that the person before me
4 va, none other than the famous Ra,tlesnake Hun
ter. lie was known throughout the neighhor-
I hood as an ou,Ca,t aud wanderer, obtaining
4 miserable subsistence from the casual charities
I Of the people around him. His time WAS mostly
,pent among the rocks aud rude hills, where his
oaly object seemed to BE- the hunting out aud de
sroying of the dreaded Croiaius horrid,tS, or
8 RattIesnake. immediately determined to sd
tlsfy nv curiosity, which had been strangely cx-
cited by the remarkable appearance and behaviour
Of the stranger; aud for this purpose approached
/ him.
"Are there many Of these reptiles in tins vi
,lHity:" inquired, pointing to the crushed SER
pnt.
"Thev are getting to be scarce" said the old
nan, lifting his siouched hat and wipins his bald
brow; :. | have known the time when sou could
hardly stir ten ruds from your door In this part
Of the State without hearing their low, quick rat
lie at your side, or seeing THEN nany-colo'h 5a-
dies coing up in your path. But, "a | said be-
fore. they are .et,ins to ~ Scarce-the internal
race will be extinct in few vearS--anl thank
Gah have myself been a considerable cause oil
heir determination "
You must, Of course know the nature OF these
creatures perfectly well" saId L. =" On you be-
leve IA their power of fascination or charmnS:
The old mans countenance fell. There was a
visible struggle Of feeling within him; for his lap
qunered. aud he dashed ms brown hand sudden
IS across MS ewes, "a II IL conceal a tear. But
quickly recovering himself he answered IN the
DN, deep voice Of one ABOUT to reveal some hDr-
Ube secret
IL believe in the rattlesnake's power of fasci-
nation a. believe in nv Own existence.
"SnrelV," said !, ''you dn not believe that
they have power over human beings"
II dol know it To be sand the Old
man troubled as he spoke. "You are Il stranser
u ae." he said SLOWLY, after scrutiniZing my
iel'uies Tor a moment.-" bpi Vi You will gu
down with me to the foot of this rock, IN the
'fide there, '-and he pulotedtn group ut lean
~ oakS that hung over the deciiSIty. -" will
tell you d strange aud sad story OF my own ex.
pereGCe,
Ii NAV be supposed that readily assented to
this proposal B'stowluS one more blow on the
ra.irsnAke, a if to be certain of his death. the
OIL maa descended the rocks with rapIditv
winch wauld have endangered the neck of a less
pac,isct hupter After rrachins the place which
b" had pointed nut, the Rattlesnake Hlnter com
menCed MS story in a manner Which confirmed
what | had previously heard OF his education and
miellectual strength.
"lswaS among the earliest settlers in this part
OF the country. had just finished ms sduca-
N'"h " 'He OElSerSitS OF tiFNaru, Nnen Wa,
induced, by the 1atterinS representations OF some
ct the earlier pioneers into the wild lands beyond
The Connecticut, TO seek my fortune i'll the new
settlements. NV wite"-the old mAn's eye gIis
ieaed 10 an instant, and then tear crossed his
o;o@n cheek-''my wife accompanied me, young
and delicate aud beautiful Is she was. to this
Wild and rude country. shall never forgive
myself Tor bringing her hither-never. Young
man," he continued "you look like one whu
could pity me. You shall see the image of the
.irl who followed me to the new country. And
The Rattlesnake's power Of fascination was
generally admitted BY early settlers Of the Colo
aies, That the serpent has actually the mystic
nous faculty Of charming or fascinating the prey
apon which it subssts, is still believed. and upon
s'd authority. That this power extended to
Sanln beings has Also been asserted, And tina
"e effect produced by the charm upon the sen
"a OF ITS victim, was substantially the same al
v MAI described in the story of "Tbe Rattlesnak'