The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1883-12-22
THE WHISPERING CAVE
BY MAJOR HAMILTON,

In 1873 a certain spur of the East
Tennessee Mountains became infested
with a band of daring freebo oters or
highwaymen, who plundered indiscrim-
lnateiy the lowiandrr and the huutsrlan,
and occasionally swooped at night upon
some small town, and swept its single
store clean, only to escape with gathering
hoofs into the ragged defiles of the hills,
IN time to avoid capture or even close
pursuit.
Occasionally, too, lives were added n
the robbers spoil, for If an owner were
too stubborn, pistol shot might end
the argument, or ii a pursuer drew too
near, well-aimed rife cut short his
further advance. In fact, the gang were
robbers openly, and worse when needs
be.
At this time, passed two months of
golden fall, with friend in the village
or town of Washtee, OILY five miles from
the crest of one of the Cumberland
ranges. My time was given to hunting
that of my friend TO the establishment
of a small banking house with a capital
of some fifty thousand dollars; and our
evenings, usually spent together in one
OF tue three village stores, or at the tav-
ern, were filled with tales of the noun
tain highwaymen, who were performing
their deeds of doubtful valor on every
hand.
One night it would be the woe of some
homeguing farmer, hghtened of his doz-
Ell or two hard-earned dollars, by pair
of half masked despe radoes IN a lionel,
gulcn; and again he sudden demolition
of country store, twenty miles away,
or the killing of a bold defender, would
ill the time with stirring news.
AS the days passed these rumors thick
ened, until one evening, a. [ returned
from long hunt, my friend took me
one side alter tea, and said:
" Major, look herel You'd better
give up your roaming. These robber
rascas are closing In about us, Only
this noon they shot poor mouutaineer
IN cold blood, two miles from here, be
cause he tried to run when they ordered
him to stop. It's becoming serious, aud
I've notion tn At The governor Dug ht to
send some troops here to clean them
cut"
$50 you think am in danger ?" said
]. half-smiling. 81 have nothing for
robbers"
Except your rife, and that is worth
more to you than to them. No; stay at
home awhile, Major. They may come
after my bank, and I'll need you to help
me n dtfend ii.
raw that ny friend was in earnest IN
his ia hest, and so promised to curtail
my excursions for the present, at least
For week, therefore, loafed III the
village until one perfect day, when the
peril provto too strong, and armed with
my double barrel, l struck again for the
woods.
This time / directed nv steps away
from the beaten course, and after fol-
lowing winding road for a couple Of
miles, turned aside and pushed directly
into the wilder soIitudes that knew lay
undisturbed beyond.
The cool, crisp air and clear sunshine
invigorated me. My enforced rest OF a
week had renewed my strength and the
Joy of being again alone with nature
filed my heart.
For several hours l walked steadily
on, now following some narrow gorge.
again skirting some pine-9rown ridge
until, as the sun crept toward the mer-
Idian, / found myself IL portion of the
mountains entirely new to me and evi-
IDENTIFY seldom visited by the foot of
man,
Great riffs tore the ragged peaks
about me, forming chasms often half
filled with mighty boulders, while the
growth of timber was stunted, gnarled
and often matted into dense thickets, Is
though nature herself were in fierce
aud angry mood in this strange solitude.
Deeply interested in the wonderful
scenery about me, and more intent upon
the 81 grounding views than either game
or weather, | had thus far carried my
gun unused, although twice l had
startled deer from their poonday rest.
and had sent half a score of swift winged
cartridges Whlrring from their midday
meal
But now sudden flow of chilling
wind swept upon me, bringing witt it
q dash OF rain, and, looking up. | saw
that very heavy storm was about to
break.
Hastily looked about me for some
shefer, when my eye caught an appar-
enc recess q few rods higher, within |
which l might hide myself, and rapidly |
L sought to avail myself of i,
NOR was too soon, for Just as | /
reached the little cave, for such it seemed |
TO be-tbe storm broke with all the fury
OF mountain tempest, rain and wind /
mlngl11g with a wild fury.
L sought to retreat still further within
the shelter of the rocks, when to my hor-
ror found other corners before me.
Almost at my feet lay cooled two enor-
nous rattlesnakesl
Often as | had met these reptiles in
my wanderings yet dreaded them most
heartily, and as the fattened heads
turned toward me now, and the dull me-
failIc rattle told of their anger, was
ready TO flee into the face of the storm
rather tn to encounter the dangerous
'reatures; but moment after pride as
serted herself, and Selling long broken
orancn close st hand, / made swift at
ack, and was rewarded with as sudden
'lctorv. for single blow killed both, |
Iuu hung their writhing bodies into
he gorge beneath.
Then | entered the little cave, found {