The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1876-06-16
HAUNTED ISLANDS.
BY JOHN H. WHITsoN.

BY JOHN II. wHITsoN.
A party of hunters wore slowly pick
ing their devious way among the bowld.
ers of canyon, at the base of the Rocky
mountains, on the evening of pleasant
day in the early autumn of 1855. The
sun was rapidly sinking in the west, and
the gray shadows of evening were set
Ting over the earth, shrouding the can
yons in pail of gloom, and casting a
spectral haze over the giant peaks, ex-
oept where here and there their tops
were tinged with crimson glory.
The party numbered three, two of
whom were bronzed and hardy trappers
men who had been Injured to the wild
life of the mountains deserts, and wilder
ness from their earliest youth, and who,
in consequence of their constant contact
with the widest phases of human exist
ence and the isolation of hunters life,
were fair representatives of that class
of men who form the connecting link be-
tween savage and civilized life. The
other was a young man of perhaps TWEEN
ty-five years, and with the broad intel
lectual brow that bears the stamp and
seal of civilization. One could tell at a
glance that he was not an ordinary hun
ter, and would reach the conclusion that
he was here rather for the sport and ex-
citement of the chase than anything
else. He was, in reality, a well-to-do
merchant of San Francisco, who longing
to escape the distracting din ard hustle
of business and the suffocating heat of
the hot season, had engaged the two
trappers, who were old acquaintance, to
accompany him in a pleasure jaunt TO
the Rocky mountains, and we now find
them near the base of this noble range,
and directing their steps to a line OF
timber short distance in advance, and
which fringed the banks of a river,
known as the Gold Stream, probably be-
cause no gold had ever been discovered
anywhere near 1t.
The name of the young merchant was
Charles Knowland, and his guides were
Black Ben and Shasta Joe, two famous
scouts.
AS they neared the fringe of timber
Black Ben turned partially, and, address
ing Knowland, said
Hev you ever heerd o. the Gold
Stream ghost?"
f" No, have never heard of his ghost
ship. What of him Is the stream sup
posed TO be haunted?
" supposed, the deuce There's no
supposin' about it; when Black Ben sees
anything, he ginerally sees it. tell YOU
theresa critter as STAYS somewhat around
an island about half mile down this
yer crick, an Almost every night he
comes out an list makes things bile.
There amt tIapper or an Iniun in the
country butts a feered to go near the
island on account o the thing. and it
Almost makes my blood run cold when
ever think o. it."
@ What is it like? queried the young
man, in half-serious. half-jocular tone.
:" Sec yer said the trapper, turning
upon him, angrily, "mebbe you think
as how lie about this ~
" Beg pardon, Ben" replied the
young man, seeing his mistake, " but
am skeptical upon the subject of
ghosts; In fact, | don't believe there are
such things think everything of the
kind can De accounted for in natural
manner, and as the result of natural
causes. But what appearance does this
ghost or hobgoblin present?''
Well" said Ben, slightly modified,
Gas / said before,i it stays around this yer
island, though no one ever seen it ON the
island itself, fer it alters comes up in the
middle OF the river, and gives a yell like
ten thousand Blackfeet howlin' all to
once. You could on'y see its shoulders
an head, for the rest of it was under
water. 1t he'd a face suthin' like hui
man face, but all over hairy, and on its
hairy lookIn' head war two horns that
stood right strait up, and as white as
snow. When / seed it, the tarnal thing
hepped right up within ten feet of me
and let off the most ear-splittin' veil We
ever heerd. Why, / could feel nv flesh
creep on my very bones, an my hair
stood up till it Almost lifted the cap often
my head. | couldn't move hama or foot.
until the thing div under water agin.
and then was Sc weak l could scarcely
walk
Knowland felt like laughing, but the
serious tone and lugubrious expression
upon the face of Black Ben warned him
that, ifhe wished to retain his friendship,
he must not be too reckless in scoffing at
the trapper's superstition He knew
that Black Joe had really seen some
startling sight, but what, if the mystery
were solved, he believed would be robbed
OF half its terrors. However, he said, in
q serious tone:
Ben, am greatly interested in this
account you have given me, and would
ike to see this monster for myself.
would like to have you and Joe here ac-
company me to the vicinity of the island
tonight, and we will see if we can I'M
ravel this mystery"
The trappers protested against any
such procedure, Ben bewailing his folly
in revealing his knowledge, and declar-
ing that he would rather face a whole
tribe of blackfeet. Knowland, however.
was firm In his resolve, and as they were
in his employ, and bound in duty to
obey him, and besides, as friends, did
not wish to lose his friendship and be ac-
cused of cowardice, they consented to
guide him to the haunted island, and, as
they verify believed, to the abode OF his
satanic majesty himself
They soon reached the fringe of tim
Der, and finding gully where they
would be safe from the eyes of providing
savages, they kindled fire and roasted
some juicy venison, of which they ate
heartily, for tramp among the noun
tains is one of the best of appetizers.
They remained here smoking and chat
ting until the moon had risen high above
the treetops, and Knowland's silver time.
piece announced the hour of tel, when.
snouidering their guns they carefully
threaded their way down stream in the |
direction of the island, fitting like silent |
spectres from tree to tree and bowlder to |
powder. They had traversed about a /
halt mile, when Shasta Joe, who was in I
advance, uttered warming "sh :" and
halted.
see yer nowp he said, turning 10
the Others, we're almost to the internal
place. and huntin' ghosts is ticklisb
sort O business, We want to keep clus to
gether an as still as possible. Forrard p
Again they moved on, and soon came
ID sight OF the stream, cleaning in the
moonlight like a bed of molten silver
They could see the low, black Island in
Inc center covered with low bushes, and