Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1858-05-08
MISCELLANY.
The Silent Hunter,
BY MRS. noRAoE 81. gohN.


"A rare fertility charaetefi2es the Ken
tuckian State as it vergcs sohthward OH the
land of Tennessee, Here swoen,of the
so-called "Barrons" may be seen Gnanieled
with flowers, numbGress, and richly dyed
over which the south wind bloys, Raftine
Their fragrance, OF clothed with magnificent
crops of Indian corn, from ten to fifteen
feet III height, or-of tobacco. or wheat. wa
wing and golden. This luxuriance contrasts
picturesquely with the norEhern portions of
the country These drcary aud wild. pre.
sent only hills ofsahd, or lines of -4ruepetl
cliffs, amidst which terrept daslies hero
and there, with menacing roar, and far
winding gorges dark and deep, are sudden
ly disclosed by the jutting Of the orae, to
the disniay of travellers. Savage wilds,
too, terrible as Dante,s solitude; are There,
which, abouhding IN legendary intsrests.
are renowned in Kentucknn story, and
form not the least attractive attribute of
these strange, Romantic regioHs.s &, s.,e&
There 1T was that the Indians, driven
from their original territories, or.huntino,
grounds, took np position to wape 4. re-.
lentless war with their aggrcssors, whose
strength was tested in many 4 fierce en-.
counter with the sYarthg ShaYnecs. Silf
TO- these memorable tracts does MANY a
sporting party resort, where the ronsias
OF rough buistltents, tell fthe inyincible
hunter warriors; who once held them as
their own. Doubtless heroes of a different
race existed, however, ready to dfsnnte cys
cry inch Of Kentucky land with the tawny
settlers. Harfod and Boone. were distin-
gulshed among them, bur even they were
surPasscdin bravery By 'hien,gbose ruthless
ferocity and ihdomitable daring we're SO re-
niarkable, as TO be regarded BY tho sayaeeS
as the result Of sonie fearful and supefnatu.
raj agency.
The superstition acted G,turally to their
detrinient, and Increased Tie pt,wer of SFill
Smith, the forest Ghieftain. who. victor In
repeated contests, they looked tipoii as she
OWL genius of their race Ian instruments Of
vcpgeance sentby the Great Spirit Theifi
tlmidlty in faeing 80 terrible an enemy. Was
the cause OF an irresolutlon ID their attacks
which usually brought defeat, and facilita-
tod, of course, the means of escape for fl,a
conquefor. Sometimes unexpectedly on.
the rear Of his enemy, at Others ahead of
shepS or incomprehensibly IN the midst of
pilS Atttyy ~ Bccthpu .lnNecd as though the
wasrior had a Charmed Eife.' Trne IL was
that spell hung on tho existeac4 6f the
extraordinary man, who lived under che
shadow OF a great and inextinedishabIe sor
row. The bitter remembrance of this It
was, which melting ceassless desire of roI
venge, was the secret Of his gestless and
sanguinary career. The bliehs Of 4nisory
as plague-taint separated hins frnsn his
fellow men sSternlyaud isolatea he lived,
forever haunting the war-path OF She hus.t
iugstsail of tho Indians, from which their
brayest leaders disappeared. Ditch ia their
hunting expeditions would their leader Gall.
surrounded by his braves, pierced 10 the,
heart by tie eUnefging bullet Of the Silent.
Hunters and tho clear sharp ring Of. his
rifle quickly followipg waa allstlle indisa.,
ticps given their Of presence. pura,;t,
search were aDiltc unayailihg -lofa before
either could be successfully put into roa,
iieitien, he was fat beyond the reach Of
their elsspst, ,seafeh,, Z n a6lI 1.s
Few among the border people apprOhehed.