Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1833-10-30
From the Western Monthly M .gazine.
THE SPECTRE HUNTER,
A LEGEND OF THE WEST.
IF DI,fTJal, JU;po,,

Louisiana was the theatre of many vile
and romantic adventure. Far from al
thai oceid revive the recolle, ton of Other
days, appointment forgot, in the seclu
sion OF its Arcadian scenes, that man was
ungrateful, or woman untrue.
Many legend of those times is yet
told in a foreign tongue, by venerable
few V no have come down to US from a
former age, aud who fnger among the
new race that peoples their native prov
ince, Ike the Wondering bastons Of St.
Louis, surrounded by the dwellings and
warehouses which busy trade has erect
ed.
The following legend is still heard a
round their wint.r evening hearths.
y y
1t was near the middle OF October, in
the year 1869, on one of those fine au'
tumua! days peculiar TO the west, when a
French trader was journeying with one
of the natives to an Indian settlement
high up the Merrinack. In the express
sive language Of the country, vegetation
had been struck and the leaves of the
cver.vaT5ing forest displayed richness
of colsging nowhere seen but under a
western sky. The ivy hung in crimson
festoons around the oak, and seemed ra
Their tie gorgeous drapery of an eastern
bridal chamber, than the sober work OF
nature. The hollow SQUAD OF the crane,
as he guided his squadron to the south,
was il, unisoa viii, toe scene. The broad
diss Of the sun. relened by The smoke of
'lndian summcs,' slowly sinking behind the
Osar;s mountains. famed on the waters Of
the Me1cia2ack. The kindliDg eye Of the
savage, a'Ai ne sef)euati ione Of his voice
told that 't3 scenery Of his native wild
WIS., teGele wi;h strong emotions. The
tsasscg, iI,r:.essad in dreams CT specula
tiaO, iagered bsa.;nti, ans left the 'g.;;nd Il
thu savage . take, nni'nerruptedls, toe
hue Of the hour. T,'ey were fast APP
preaching one Of those mounds where the
warrior Of years hey nd The reach of ira
ditiou sleeps in glory.
The white tlan casts a vacant eye upon
this rude sep1IcIme Of other years, or, at
most regards ii with idle curiosity. Far
otherwise with the native. He passes it
with slow melancholy tread: he gazes
upon it III silence, and the deep work
kings Of bis features show the intense feel
ing with which he views the grave over
which snoons have cor,e aud gone too
countless for the Indian to number.
Just as they CANE in sight OF the mound,
the Indian started sack. On its summit,
rec!iued against tree, stood tall, ma
jestic figure see ingiy watching the ray
Of the sun fading on the waters OF the
river. By the SIDE of the tree against
which he leaned, was rife. At his feet
lay dog apparently asleep. The trader
soon arrived, and gazed with silent awe
upon the apparition, and the long shadow
which it cast upon the surrounding forest.
They soon filed off in different direc'
ton, and scarce did sound arise from
the dead leaves, so noseless was their
tread.
The shadows of night had diffused
dimness through the woods, the buffalo
had sunk to his lair, and the feathered
tribes were perched upon the tall syca
mores, long before they deemed them
selves sufficiently distant to encamp fol
the night. AT length, having reach lit
tie ravine through which ran little
stream, the savage kindled a fire by the
side of dry, fallen elm. Not word
was uttered during the operation, and
both, for long time, watched the flame
curling around the wood they had piled
upon it, before either ventured to speak
sRed Serpent said the trader, you have
always lived in these woods; ever before
saw you the tall vision we beheid on the
mound? Is It of mortal mould? A pause
followed. The savage cast frequent anc
piercing glances into the surrounding
darkness, which the bright blaze OF The
fire rendered deeper and still more i'm
penctrable. Il have traversed these Wild
ever since could spring the bow, or take
the beaver from the trap. There is no
a tree from the great Ozark to the "fath
er of waters,'' that Red Serpent has no
seen, in war and in peace. In this glen
when the sky was red and the clouds sen
down their waters, in this very glea, la.
in ambush, and heard the willy Osag'
consult how he might surprise the sleep
ing Shawnees. The storm howled, ant
even the hungry wolf looked out from he
den and shrunk hack. crnwled ava.
unobserved, reached my native village
and before the sun arose, the head Of tn
Usage was low
Another pause ensued. The shadow
lines of the speakers countenance grew
darker. The scenes Of other years wer
crowding grounding his memory. Ih
trader lefrhim to the communion Of hi
ewn thoughts. At length the cloud pas