Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1858-05-14
THE SILENT HUNTER
BY MRS. HORACE ST. JOHN.

| 4 RARE fertility characterzes the Ken
tuckiau State as it verges southwark on the
land of Tennessee. Here sweep of the So
called ssBarrcns" may be seen enameled with
! flowers, numberless, and richly died, over
which the south wind blows, waiting their
| fragrance, or clothed with magnificent crops
of Indian corn, from ten TO fifteen feet in
height, or of tobacco or wheat, waving and
| golden. This luxuriance contrasts picturesquely
with the northern portions of the country
These, dreary aud wild, present only hills OF
sand, or libes of rugged cliffs, amidst which
torrent dashes here and there, with menacing
roar, aud far-windiug gorges dark and deep,
are suddenly disclosed by the juttiug OF the
crag, 10 the dislnay of travellers. Savage
wilds, too, terrible as Daute's solitude, are
there, which abounding in legendary interests,
are renowned in Kentuckau story, and forn.
not the least attractive attribute of these
strange, romantic regions.
There it was tha! the Indians, dEiKeR from.
their original territories, or huH<Bg GROUNDS,
took up position to wage %elentlesS war
with their aggressors, whose strength was
| tested 10 many fierce encounter with the
swarthy Shawnees. Still to these memorable
tracts does many sporting party" resort,
where the remains of rough built tents, tell of
the invincbe hunter warriors, who once held
them as there own. Doubtless heroes of
different race existed, however, ready 10 dis
pute every inch of Kentucky land with
the tawny settlers. Harrod and Boone were
! distinguished among them, but even they we're
surpassed in bravery by men whose lnatchlcss
skill in contest, whose ruthless ferocity and
indomitable daring were so remarkable as to be
regarded by the savages the result of some
fearful and supernatural agency.
The superstition acted naturally to their
detriment, and increased the power of Will
Smith, the Forest Chieftain, who, victor in
repeated contests, they looked upon as the evil
genius of their race-an instrument of
vengeance sent by the Great Spirit. Their
timidity in facing so terrible an enemy, was
the cause of an irresolution in their attacks
| which usually brought defeat, and facilitated,
of course, the means escape for the conqueror.
Sometimes, unex pectedly on the rear of his
enemy, at others ahead of them, or incompre-
hensibly in the midst of the fray, it seemed
indeed as though the warrior had a charmed
life True it was that spell hung On the
existence of the extraordinary man, who lived
under the shadow of great and inextin-
! guishable sorrow. The bitter remembrance
| of this it was, which melting ceaseless desire
1t revenge, was the secret of his restless and
| sanguinary career The blight of misery as a
| plague>taint separated him from his fellow
men, Sternly and isolated he lived, forever
haunting the war-path or the huuting-traii of
| the Indians, from which their bravest leaders
| disappeared. Often in their hunting ex-
.ba;. f.n IL
BY his braves, pierced to the heart by the
| unerring bullet of the Silent Hunter, and the
clear sharp ring Of bis rife quickly following
was all the indications given them os his
presence. Pursuit, search were alike un-
availing-long before either could be sue
ccssfully put into requisition, he was tar beyond
the reach of their closest search.
Few among the border people approached or
veutured to address the dreaded chieftain. A
mystery surrounded him which was the source
Of perpetual conjecture, increased by The very
circumstances which appeared to render it i'm
probable it should ever be solved; for this
singular being maintained a silence as uubroken
as though he was dumb, through which he was
commonly known as the ssSilent Hnnter."-
This appearance of sulleE reserve distanced
all, and those who otherwise would have
oompassionated his sorrows, or perhaps even
shared his singular fortunes, now denounced
him as ruthless adyenturer: very different
would havo been their Judgment could they
have penetrated the enigma of his solitary life,
and have known how cruelty SCARED had been
heart once quickened BY the kindliest and
livelicst emotions Misfortune which at ore
dread stroke had deprived him of his realization
Of happiness on earth, seemed to have dead.
ened every human hope and sympathy, and
crushed every social instinct within his
heart.
The son Of Obscure emigrants from the Old
World, his FIRST unhappiness was to be lef. an
orphan at an early age. The next to be ap-
prenticed to farmer 10 North Carolina, a
miserable miser, who not only subjected the