Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1891-03-13
A TALE OF THE FOREST.
AZ Indian Hunter Encounters y Ghostt,
Visitor

Who have had experiences in the deep
forests, that are utterly inexplicable.
These experiences We're SO personal and
real III themselves, and so unusual in
Their nature, as to render it difficult to
question the veracity of the narrators.
From the effect that the mere mention
OF the occurrence often has on the per-
son to whom it happened. from his
manifest unwillingness to go into the
details OF the story, and from many
other little incidents, one con easily as
sure himself that the narrator, at least,
firmly believes in the reality Of the ex-
pellence OF which he tells.
Such story as the following, told
me, after much urging, by an old Mic
Mac hunter, who trembled visibly uu-
der the awesomcness of his recollections
as he related it, will bea fair sample of
the mysterious and marvellous in forest |
life. /
This Indian--TomahL Levy by name
was hunting and trapping in mid-winter
some Years ago on the head-waters of |
the Iracadie River in New Brunswick.
He hunted the moose and caribou on
the barren plains of that region, while
he trapped in the deep woods adjoining.
! At first he did not have any permanent
headquarters from which to issue out
on his expeditions; but having come
across deserted lumber camp, which
was fast falling into decay, he decided
to repair it and there take up his abode
for the rest of his stay. He spent the
greater part of day putting the old
camp into repair. He found he had
then pretty comfortable quarters, and
as the decaying howell close by would
supply him with dry wood, he consid-
cred himself quite we'll housed. Be-
sides, the old camp happened to be
close to the river, from which he could
thus easily get his supply Of water.
His first night in his new quarters
was, however, his last there. He was
busy cooking his supper, he said, when
the hoof-beats of a team of horses, the
grating Of sled-runners on the dry snow,
the clanlSing of bunk-chains and the
dragging Of heavy timber fell upon his
ears. He could also hear the teamster
urging his horses. Although Tomah
Levy realized in moment that no
earthly teamster could be driving a
timber-laden team through the deep
snow over unbroken roads he hurriedly
unbarred the door, half expecting to be
greeted by some human voice as he
went out. The moon was shining in all
its splendor, so that even squirrel
track could be seen. No team or driver
was in sight, however; not track but
his own marked the clean, bright snow.
He stood and listened in stolid wonder
and amazement The sounds still con.
tinued, as if the invisible teamster was
proceeding with load to the landing
on the river
The Indian went back into the camr
. and doubly barred the door. He hat
. no doubt now of the supernatural char
9 acter Of this alarming occurrence. HI
I had not been long back in the cam
, when he could hear the team returning
. There was repetition Of the sam
= sounds, with the exception that n
+. heavy piece of timber dragged on tn
: snow. The team was returning empty
< The road to the howell led past one col
!, ner of the old camp, and the Indian fol
: instinctively that the horses were beinl
driven there for the night. As the
i passed the camp the sled appeared t
. catch in the corner of the old building
!. The jerk shook the walls almost to thei
! foundations.
. The driver continued, however, o,
0 his way to the howell. Soon the Indial
heard the sled-pole fall and the horse
, step on it, as their attendant unhitchet
. them. He could recognize even tn,
8 light clink of their traces as they en-
tered the howell. He listened as i
spell bound. In few minutes NOR,
8 he could hear step approaching til.
camp from the howell, as if the team
, ster, having cared for his horses, wa
now coming to his own supper.
At this stage of the story the dusky
narrator appeared to suffer all the
/; pangs of superstitous fear that he Eel
: on that eventful night. I had heard o
.. mems hair standing upright on thei1
heads as the effect of mental emotions
but had never witnessed such phe
= nomenon before. The old Indians hal
: actually stood out from his head; hi:
!, voice became tremulous; his whole form
: shook with emotion. I could readily
4 picture to myself the abjectness OF hi.
!. fear as that ghostly step approached
o his hiding place.
n The footballs still continued, he said
q They stopped at the front of the camp
. and the listener within could hear the
5 teamster hang up chain on peg out
side. The footsteps continued right
to the door.
The Indian, in the meantime, pluck
D ing up his courage, in pure desperation
/. seized his rifle and seating himself OF
J, the "deacon-seat," so-called. awaited
/. the entrace of his visitor. The latte1
j. tried the door, and finding it locked
4 gave it tremendous kick. The Indiar
/. said he expected to see it fly in upo1
J the floor. No word was uttered by the
), spirit without or by the terror-stricker
). mortal within. At length, after walk
q ing around little the footsteps turned
in tho direction Of the howell. The
: teamster was going back to spend the
q night with bis horses.
= One can we'll imagine that the Indian
: heartily wished himself far away from
. those haunted precincts. He burst not
however, trust himself outside while
. that ghostly lumberman was about. He
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