St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1894-05-17
Selected Sfpru.
"SMUDGING" THE HA'NT.

All the bows IN Wildcat Cove be-
lieved implicitly in the existence of
ghosts. Why should they not when
their elders put such perfect faith IN
"ha'nts?" From generation to gen
Grafton thrilling tales of ghostly
wanderers were handed down as the
richest possessions of some particu-
lar cove or mountain.
A cove in Tennessee is long, deep
valley among the mountains. Wild
cat Cove, extending away back
among the cliffs Of the Tennessee
mountains, was exactly the place a
haunt might be supposed TO enjoy.
But until Bud Sims and Coon Ia
bOr's memorable encounter Oh the
ledge above Lost Greek, no one had
ever met the ha mt OF Wildcat Cove
face to face.
1t was just the day for a grand
hunt, and Bud and Coon determined
to make the most OF it. Long before
the sun had found its way over the
top of Walden Ridge, while the
morning sky was yet chill and gray,
the boys were on their way to the
head of the cove.
When they reached the banks Of
Lost Creek, the eastern sky was a
sea of ripping pink, fecked with
soft, dim dashes Of changing gold
and gray; and by the time they
struck the ledge far over the distant
ridge beyond, the sun was rising
slowly over the dark mountain, and
the cloud mists were rolling up from
the valleys.
Halfway up the cliff the boys
stopped for a moment to rest, for
the path was unusually rough and
steep. The point which they had in
mind was two miles further on. in
the range, as the woods where cattle
feed or range" in the winter, are
called
Although where the Cove was
wider it was not quite light, down
here in the ravine. through which
the creek rushed, foanning and rough,
to its underground prison beyond,
II was only dim twilight as yet.
They had climbed quite q distance
already, and below them the waters
of the creek roared and rushed. Far
above on either side rose the ragged
lodges of rock which formed the cliff
lined walls of the Cove Behind the
Jutting rock where the boys were
resting was narrow passage lead
ing into a deep hole in the cliff.
Genuine mountain boys as Bud
and Coon both were, they of course
were familiar with every inch Of
ground for miles around. There was
nothing alarming to them in this
dark hole; they knew it well. 1t
was only a assure in the rock, such
as could be found in all the limestone
cliffs among the mountains, and it
extended as far as they knew, only
some thirty feet back from the ledge
1t was not wide enough for even a
boy to squeeze through with any de-
gree OF comfort, and at last grew SO
narrow that even the curious Coon
had been able to go no further.
The boys had always thought that
the passage probably led to the
underground course of Lost Greek !;
for the waters below suddenly dis
appear beneath the cliff, and where
they appear again has never been
discovered.
There was no sound in the ravine
except the roar of the waters below.
The people IN the valley had not be-
gun the days work as yet and the
fields were quiet and deserted.
Coon broke the silence. Bud was
the elder, but Coon usually took the
lead.
Hit air on this ledge as the ha'nt's
been walkin', Bud Old Man Waters
seen hit no later'n a-Chewsday
week
Bud started invo1untarily. EFF
hit war ter appear to we-uns, now !"
he murmured, apprehensively.
Tibet hole thar put me in mind of
hit" continued the other. "Old Man
Waters, he SEE hit come outn thet
hole an walked over this ledge, an
jest about thutty feet over yam hit
jest drapped plumb out'n sight; an
tho he war a-lookin' an a-1ookin'
fur hit ter come ter sight ag'in hit
he'd gone fur sure"
Hit air plumb Gurus wher hit
went reflected Bud
"Ha'nts air made of air, I reckon"
Coon brought forth this theory with
considerable confidence. "An' eff
thSS al hoadS oul al lHSy Can
hurt human, l low"
There was such a peculiar note in
his voice that Bud turned around
with long searching look at him.
'Air ye Amin to hunt fur the crit
ter?" he whispered, almost tremb-
ling to think OF the profanity of such
a thing as disturbing ha'nt
EFF hit air handy to do so 1 aim
ter
Coon spoke with his usual quiet
drawl, but with such deliberate
emphasis that the assertion carried
conviction to Buds wondering ears.
Fur sure, Coon?" Bud was awed
at such daring.
Eyes, ef''-
"Yess-ss :"