The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1854-05-05
Smith with lis own hands dug their

graves.-wilh his own hands he laid them
side by side; his first. born on his mothers
right hand, his youngest on her bosom
where il had laid and nestled so long
And than he stood for a few moments
looking upon this last couch made for
their earthly rest; and piled some stones
to mark the spo, and bade adieu forever
TO that love in which his heart had made
its home. His comrades were standing
around in silence. They expected that
when he had finished he would follow
them. But he walked abou, the site OF
the camp, found where the Indians had
come and gone. Then lie shouldered his
rife, waved his hand solemoly,and speak
ing no farewell, disappeared on the trail
Of the Shawnees. 4m
From that hour a strange mystery
sprang among these mountains. There
eas known 10 dwell on them lonely
huh,er-a white man who was seen oc-
casionally by the Indians or some solitary
,rappers always with rife inrhis hand,
bu, pcrpetually sileni,never speaking one
word TO any one, il he was addressed, he
turned and fetreaied into the woods. -
Gradually he was lost sight Of altogether,
except to Daniel Boone, that far.famed'
hunter, whose name is familiar over the
whole continent Of America. Daniel
Boone was believed 10 have frequent in>
tersiews with him,and 10 supply him with
powder and ball, but never spoke Of him,
and only replied to questions by shaking
his head and touching his brow with his
finger. 4rg 2 i.a
This had went on for Two years, and
men had almost forgotten Bill Smith
But at tile end Of that time Shawnee
Indian was taken prisoner BY the people
of Boone's fort, and he once more revi-
we'd the excitement; as 20 The Silent Huns
ter. lie said that terrible splri!had FOR
two years haunted the war path OF the
Shawnees-an evil demon whose sigh
was appalling to their nation. More than
thirty braves had already fallen under his
hand. This fearful medicine was sent
to punish them for some portenous sin.
So dreaded had he become, that the lrib
had met and were nearly determined to
qui, forever their ancient hunting grounds
ia Kentucky.
When asked whether he had ever seen
The demon, he said he had never seen il
distinctly, though their young men hat
pursued It often, and always came bacI
with at least one of their number miss
ing. AT length none dared TO follow 'h'
apparilion.
! After this story had rumorcd abroad
men began again TO speak Of Bill Smith
They spoke Of him, however, with an On
accountable dread, ,alu ays in a low voice
J The Shawnees had formerly been one q
the most formidable and best organize
tribes Of the red nation. They now be
came timid, and carried on a desultor.
warfare. They were beaten by the hos
: tile tribes, for whenever battle took plac
, the Silent Hunter made his appearance
r suddenly, silently, fighting with their Ell
$ emies.
II they assaulted fort he was anon
|. its defenders; il they attacked strong
( hole ,he was never away, but headed III
3 ossaiants. Bat he caHe and went with
+, ou, speaking. lie never greeted an
3 man, and no man said farewell TO him. :
: The border people looked upon him wit
respect aud fear; the Indians shuddere
. al his name, and the Shawnces es2eciall
: looked on him as curse sent fro,h I'll
Great Spi5i, TO exlcrminate their race.
4 Al last they became so terrified BY ii
9 phantom Of the Silent Ilur,er,perpetual
8 haunting their paths, that they all cole
d ted and fed across the grea, stream
Kentucky. But he followed them ov
!. and was ever on their hunting grounf
g So they fled again and passed over ii
Green River. lie passed it too, and ne
;, or crossed il again. Sill the Indians we
: appalled, b. hearing Of The braves slain
y the forest and at their camp fires, by
J, arm which they SO fully believed TO
II, the arm Of some avensing spirit, that the
|. never dreamed Of cunfl.ci. The Sile
/ Hunter never los. their Troll. Then the
e once more burned their wigwams al
q went away forever from that county,
n And when the last Of The gShawnees hi
Z launched his canoe upon the Ohio, b
4 Smi,l, arose from amid the bushes on Il