The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-04-16
Earl Dunraven's Ghost Story .

From his article In the Nineteenth CtDturY.l
"My soul and body, sir" says John, the
guide, "never see such luck in all my life;
most as bad as we had two years ago, when
we was camped away dowr East by the
head OF Martins river. You remember,
sir, the night we saw the little fire in the
woods close by, when there Was no one
there TO make il. Very curious that was;
can't make that out at ali. What was it, do
you Think"
"Perbaps ghosts making a fire, john"
said /.
"Yes, sir, mebbe; some OF our people
believes in ghosts. sir; very foolish people,
some Indians"
..Don't you, John?"
"Ob. no, SIR, I never seed no ghosts.
have seen aud heard some curious things
though. was hunting once with two gen
tIemen near Rocky river-yOu know the
Mace well, sir. We were all sitting In
camp; winter time, sir; pretty late-about
bedtime. TIE gentlemen were drinking
III, ir grog, and we was smoking ard talk
.ns, when we heard some one walking
coming up to the camp. 'Hellov sad
one of the gentlemen, 'who can this be at
this time OF nighl!' Well, sir, We stopped
talking, and we all heard the man walk up
10 the door. My soul, sir, we could hear
his moccasips crunching on the hard, dry
snow quite PLATO. He walked up to the door,
but did not open it, did not speak, did not
knock. SO. after little, one OF us looked
out--nobody there; nobody there at all, sir.
Next morning there was not track on the
saow-not traek-and no snow fell III the
night. Well, sir, we stayed there fort
night, and most every night we would near
man in moccasins walk up TO the door aud
A N
there, and he left no tracks In the snow.
What was H., do you think, sir 7"
.sDon't know, John, am sure" said,
"unle>s il was some strange effect OF the
wind in the trees"
"Well, sir, l seed curious thing once.
was bnntiDg with gentleman from the
old country, think he was-my word, sir,
a long time ago, mebbe thirty years or
more. NY soul and body, sir, what sight
OF moose there WAS in the woods IN those
DAYS! and the caribou run in great herds
then: all falling now, sir, all falling. we
were following caribou, right fresh tracks
in the snow we were keeping sharp iooE-
out. expecting to view them every minute,
when looked up and saw man standing
RIGHT between us and where the caribou had
gone. lie was not more than two hundred
wards off, could see him guile plain. He
had on a cloth cap and green blanket
coyt, with belt around the middle-not a
leather belt like we use, sir, but wollen
one like wha; the Frencbmen use in Canada.
There was braid down the seams OF his coat
aud round bis cuffs. could see the braid
quite plain. He had no gun, nor axe, nor
nothing in his hands, but Just stood there
With his hand on his hip, that way. right in
the path, dong nothing.
tts.fx nso n Il Gutd N n
gentleman: I'VE may as well 60 home.'
.Why, what isl he matter, John!' says he.
WHY. look at the man there, right in the
track; bees scared our caribou, l guess
We'll, sir, be was very mad, the gentleman
was. and was for turning right round and
eoing home: but l wanted TO go up and
speak 10 the man. He stood there all the
time-never moved. l kind OF bowed,
nodded my head to him, and he kind OF
nodded bis head, bowed Just the same way to
me. Well, started TO 90 up to him. when
up rose great, TAT c0w-m0ose between him
and me. Look at the moose, Captain said
i. sShoOt ber!' Good heavens, John I
he saws. sIf do I shall shoot the man, too
NO, no, sir. never mind cried; fire at the
moose Well, sir, he up with the gun,
tired, and downed the moose. She Just ran
q few yards, pitched forward, and fell
dead. When the smoke cleared of the man
was gone; could not see him nowheres.
MY soul and body what's become Of the
mar, CaptaiD?' says. Dunno, John;
perhaps he is down, too says be. well,
SIR says l., 'you stop here, and | will 60
and look; mebbe he is dead-mebbe not
quite dead yet Well, went up to the
place, and there was nothing there-nothing
but little pine tree-ro man at all. i
went all round, sir; no tracks, DO sign OF
q man anywhere on the snow. What was
II, do you think, sir, we SAW" W
We'll, john" replied, 81 think that
was curious instance OF refraction."
"Ob, mebbe," says John.