The Forrest City times., 1890-02-08
SPECTRES ON THE TRAIL

the uncanny-hardly in the supernatur- al--and had always pooh-poohed at tales of ghosts, phantoms and visions of all sorts. But at the time mention ed above the experience am about to relate put my intellect and sensibility to test in such a manner as to make me sparing thenceforward of ridicule, and forced me to find place in credence for the possibility of apparitions.
 It is unnecessary to explain how came to be travelling in the Far West without companions, except for horse, and dog and gun. Following the general route of the old overland trail l camped one night in the edge of q considerable forest, and at a point from which could look forth over q broad, open plain.
 IL was already after sundown. The good horse was picketed, and having provided a supper for myself and the dog from rabbit which my gun had brought down an hour or two earlier, disposed things for the night, and, as the stars came out, lay down to sleep, comfortably rolled in blanket.
 It was probably in the small hours of night that l awoke and rose to sit ting posture. The moon was climbing the eastern sky, with not feather of cloud ill her course, and every object stood forth as clearly as in the day.
 But 1t was not for me to contem- plate in quietude the rare beauty of the night. In almost the first moment of consciousness my eyes fell upon a slowly moving object in the distance. wagons, the "prairie schooners" so familiar in the early days of overland travel to California.
 It was approaching almost directly toward me, and my curiosity was at once aroused. Why anyone should be travelling thus, and so late at night, could not imagine. The movement was heavy, as if the horses were faded, and the man who walked by their side had weary step.
 Twenty minutes passed, the vehicle approaching nearer and nearer. still on it came, until when about thirty yards from me it suddenly stopped. and the man looking about seemed to be considering the wisdom of making camp.
 At this moment I suddenly realized that the approach of the wagon had been utterly noiseless. Not chuck of the wheels, not the sound of step. either of horse or man. And, further more, there was no indication that | had been discovered, although should have been as visible to this man as he to me. What could this mean? Was dreaming? No, 1 was never more awake. Was this hallucination? No. for the dog, who had been aroused by my movement in awakening, now turned his head in the direction of the new arrival, and uttered low growl. l laid my hand on him to keep him quiet.
 The man now stood by the forward wheel looking in at the opening of the canvas top, and though I heard no voice, l imagined that he was speaking to some one within. X woman's head appeared, and after glance around. gave nod of assent, and inc man pro- ceeded 10 unharness the horses and turn them loose to graze. Then, after a moment, in which he seemed to be anNiously surveying the trail over which they had come, he helped the woman to alight.
 And now their movements greatly puzzled me. Walking to and fro, they seemed to be searching for some par ticular spot of ground. As said above, had selected my camping ground in the outer edge of the forest. They were moving about therefore amid mingled shadows and dmoonbeams. but every motion was visible. Finally the woman pointed to space between two young trees, and the man after looking at it for moment went to the rear end of the wagon and brought forth spade. With the edge of this implement he marked oil rectangular space about five feet by two. aud be- gan to dig. All this, let it be remem- bcred, was in absolute silence. Here were apparently living beings, actively engaged, and not more than hundred feet away, and yet no sound was borne to me on the quiet air
 By this time my curiosity had turn ed to marvel. Here was contradic- non or common sense! l could not believe that what l saw was real these beings must he apparitions. And yet here by my side was the dog, as alert as ], and trembling with an impulse to investigate, while obedient to my hand of restraint
 The digging proeee,led and tha soil being soft five feet of depth was soon reached, and then the man threw out the spade upon the ground. The woman, meanwhile, hsd been pluoking