The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-01-16
THE SPECTRE HUNTER.
A Legend 81 the west.

-
a Legend or the West.
During its early years, the province Of Louis
una was the theatre of many wild and romantic
adventures. Far from all that could revive the
recollection Of other days, disappointment for
got in the seclusion Of its Arcadian scenes, that
man was ungrateful, or woman untrue.
Many legend of those times is yet told in a
foreign tongue, by VI ne able few who have come
down, to us from former age, and who linger
among the new-race that peoples their native
province, like the Wondering bastions Of our city
surrounded by the dwellings and warehouses
which busy trade has erected. @
The following legend is still heard around their
winter evening hearths
1t was near the middle of October, 1869, on
one Of those fine autumnal days peculiar to the
West when a French trader was iourneying
with one OF. the natives to an Indian settlement
high up the Merrimack. In the expressive Ian.
giiage ofthe country, vegetation had been struck
and the leaves of the ever-varying forest display.
ed 4 richness Of colorng no where to be seen
but under a Western sky. The ivy hung in
crimson festoons around the oak, and seemed
rather the gorgeous drapery of an Eastern bridal
chamber than the sober work of nature. The
hollow sound of the crane as he guided his squad
ron South, was in unison with the scene The
broad disk of the sun, redeemed by the smoke of
"indian Summer slowly sinking behind the
Ozark mountains, famed on the waters Of the
Merrimack. The kindling eye of the savage,
and the softened tone of his voice. told that the
scenery Of his native wild was beheld with stong
emotions. The trader, immersed in schemes of
speculation, fingered behind, and left the mind
OF the savage to take, uninterruptedly, the hue
Of the hour. They were fast approaching one
of those mounds where the warriors of years be-
yond the reach of tradition, sleep in glory
The white man casts vacant eye upon this
rude sepulchre Of other years, or, at most, re-
CARDS it with idle curiosity Far otherwise with
the native. He passes it with slow, melan-
choly tread; he gazes upon it in silence, and the
feeling with which he views the grave over
which moons have come and gone, too countless
for the indian to number.
Just as they came in sight of the mound, the
Indian started back. On its summit, reclined a
gainst tree, stood tall, majestic figure, SEEM
ingly watching the last rays 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 gazcd with silent awe upon the ap-
partition, and the long shadow which it cast upon
the surrounding forest. They soon filed off in
different direction, and scarce did sound arise
from the dead leaves, so noiseess was their
tread as
The shadows of night had diffuscd dimness
through the woods, the buffalo had sunk to his
lair, and the feathered tribes were perched on
the tall sycamores, long before they deemed
themselves sufficiently distant to encanp for the
night. At length having reached deep ravine
through which ran little stream, the savage
kindled fire by the side of dry, fallen elm
Not word was uttered during the operation,
md hofI, fo~o 11~ 49,. L III n
ing around the wood they had piled upon it, be-
fore either vcntnred to speak Red Serpent
said the trader, you have always lived in these
woods; did you ever before see the tall vision we
beheld on the mound? Is it of mortal mould?'-
pause followed. the savage cast frequent
and piercing glances into the surrounding dark
ness, which the bright blaze of the fire render
ed deeper and still more impenetrable. Il have
traversed these wilds ever since I could spring
the bow, or take the beaver from the trap There
IS not tree from the great Ozark to the Father
and in peace. In this glen, when the sky was
red, and the clouds sent down their waters, in
this very glen lay in ambush, and heard the
willy Usage consult how he might surprise the
sleeping Shawnees. The storm howlcd, and
even the hungry wolf looked out from her den
and shrunk back. crawled away unobserved
reached my native village, and before the sun
arose the head of the Usage was low
Another pause ensued. The shadowy lines
OF the speakers countenance grew darker. The
scenes of other years were crowdng round his
memory. The trader left him to the commun-
ION of his own thoughts. At length the cloud
passed from his brow, and his mind reverbera
ted to the question of the Frenchman The be-
ing which we saw on the mound is The Spectre
Hunter; he roa,ns these woods, and no deer is
30 fieet, no bird so swift Of wing, but the tall
rifle we saw leaning against the tree, can reach
him. The dog that lay at his feet, did YOU note
how silent, even when strangers approached, vet
often, when lying at night by my fire on the
death-like howl moaning in the blast from across
the great Father of Waters
However little known at the time of which
we speak, the Spectre Hunter was not lone per.
mitted to pursue his favorite employment Of the
chase IN obscurlty. He soon became the theme
OF every Idle gossip, whether around the hearth
OF the European or the ruder fire ofthe wpwam.
lie had often been seen, but no one had ever
dared to approach him. He was universally re-
presented as q tall, straight figure, of high and
noble bearing; his long black locks, and beard
that swept his bosom sp1inked with premature
age; his head always uncovered, even when the
storm raved widest. From his shoulders to his
knees hung robe of the coarsest sack cloth.
girded with belt of the skin of wildcat. from
which were suspended apowder horn and a knife
Of fearful dimensions. His feet were always
bare, and their print frequently found in the
light snow.
Often when the moon was riding in her zenith
he was seen padding his canoe, with STARTLING
rapidity, over 'the Endless River, and the bright
flashes that fell on the parted waters, and the
straight, unbendng course he held against the
swift current, told that his oar was welded by
no mortal arm. Every beast of the forest could
SNUFF him in the breeze, and the fercest blood
hound, at the sight Of the dog that followed him
uttered low, plaintive whine, and crouched
cowardly at his masters feet. sas..
a hunter once crossed his path, and the Spec
ire motioned for him to recede. At every wave
Of his hand, he felt the blood freeze in his veins
One night when the thunders were rackne the
earth, and he was suppoaed to be on the oppc-
site side OF the water, he was suddenly seen, BY
the flashes Of lightning, standing on the tallest
mound of Cahokia, his bosom bare, and his hands
raised to the bolt. His dog was still at his feet,
and his long howl was heard between every
pause of the storm.
Year sitter year passed away, and still the
Spectre Hunter and his dog swept the forest, or
darted in the light canoe across the swift waters
One day in the summer of 1774, the little shop
of Diego, Spanish trader in st. Louis, was
cIoepd ~ az u, Al.