The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1878-02-22
Legend Of the Hunted Cace.

On the sunny banks of the Hudson.
where its silvrIy waters widen into rappdn
Bay, could be seen, amid the steep, cIaggrd
cliffs, an ancient cave. The entrance was
dark and moss grown. Huge ROCKS. piled
like surly monsters above il, and slippery
sides guard d it from the intrusion of man
and beast /; while mysterious legends were
told among the HighlaudeIs of the spirits
that held p,ssessICn of its vaulted Iecesse>
The FOLLOWING story Is one of this nature
In the early part of the American revo-
luton, two hunters, holly pursued by In
dians, and uuacquainted with the spot,
scramb bled, at the peril of life or death.
down the PERCEPTIONS sides into the cave.
1t was dusk. The lowering cluudS mutter-
ed au approaching storm, and The seTe
leaves of the uintiy oak sighed dolefnlIy.
The hardy hunters advanced into the inky
vault, their feet oft striking against crum-
bling rocks or their heads bruised against
the rough walls. Still they consider ed
themselves safe against pursuit and deter
mined to spend the night there. On
sudden the cave rocked under their feet,
fierce growls aud yells came mp from the
darkness hideous tieudS III the iu; IN of SER
pents. dogs aud monsters sermed tU hover
around them. Their glariug eyes resem-
blrd burning Goals. A cold fear ran truug d
the marrow of their buues their legs tot.
tered under them. and they felt themselves
in the power of invisible beings. They
turned to rnu out of the cave. Scarcely
had they reached the opening, when the
frightful rolling of thunder stunned their
bew wildered minds, while from the sea be-
low came the lonely cry of "Watch-ahoy,
ahoy!' AT this moment the lIg htning
parted the gloom, and they deserted a ship
Of three masts skimming the waters. l.
seemed to have neither crew nor pilot
But 20 their amaZement they felt their hats
carried to the top of the masts; aud the
shrill cry was heard right under the cliff !;
then the vessel was seen again i'll the farth-
est distance.
All was now quiet. The thunder had
died away and uaught but an impen"tra.
BILE gloom wrapped rock anu llyer III It's
folds. Gradually The fears of the HUNS
men, wrong mt To their highest pich IN the
exciting scenes around them, were suuthed
INTO timid self possession and shame of
their cowardice. "Wha. wonderful place
this is,' said Lorn. ''It seems as if all
the witches of New Eug gland had nestled
down here" "And wha' a mysterious
ship" rejoned Harvey, ''what can il be?''
Il remember said Lorin THAT grandfath-
er told me- by the fireside how such a ship
had often been seen in former days, in tins
part q: the Hudson river, especially around
the Donder>berg that he people ha'i seen
il in stormy wea her, at one time within a
few yaIds of them So that they could dis
tinguish tie objects on boaId, but never
beheld a human soul on 1t while 2 mo-
ment after il sailed in the distance, appear
ing aud disappearing, AS if by enchautmen'.
How IL has come here, no one can tell -
But wonderful stories are told. Jean ' an
Bommel, an old Dutch settler, heard that
cry of Watch-ahoy. Ahoy.' while in his
room one evening aud saw the strange YES
sci hoveiing around the bank, breaking,
like the night owl, the silence of the lonely
lake, and. fairy like. sailing off, with his
nIehtcar danplIng at the t"o of the mizzen
mast" Strange" mutteied Harvey,
what can il be ?'' sand this uneaTIh,y
noise iusid. ?'' Il have heard OF iosts,
bur | could never believe IN them till to-
night" "Well. Harvey, all Iiiis may be a
Trick got up by some rascal>. Who knows?
at any rate we were towards t. run away.
What Oo y'bu say to our trying the cave
agsin?" THAT'S exscily,my wish, L,rin !;
let us examine" Wuh bold steps. aud
firmly clasping their guns in their sides
they a,ivaucrti. The sileuce of the tomb
reigued a,ound, bruken ever and anon b.,
the faint signing of the wind but hush
hey heard "A rushing. as of autumn leaves.
They stopped tn listen. but they heard only
their own heavy me,thing aud rhrobhiug
hearts. They had NOT proceeded a hundred
yards when a eruan and chat.ering of teeth
struck upon their ears. They felt them
selves dragged by invisible hands along
marble pavements, ill door opened. and,
as if conjured up by magic, they found
themselves in a stately hall. lit up by gold
en- chandeliers which hung suspended from
the vaulted ceiling. Paintings of tourna
! ments, Weapons, and warriors of the Nor
! man period decorated the walls while s
! Turkish carpet vas spread upon The floor