The Cogan Legend (39 page)

As they were lifting it up everyone observed how clean and undamaged the coffin looked.  There was no sign of deterioration.  It looked like it did the day Poll Soll was buried.  Phillip immediately became concerned, thinking to himself,
This is unnatural
.  

The Sergeant looked at the coffin and said, “It's been almost seven months.  I thought it would be deteriorated with his bones showing.”  He gave Phillip a puzzled look and said, “This is unusual, Lieutenant.”  He knew something wasn't right.  

At the same time the coffin was being lifted Phillip felt the stone fossil in his pocket suddenly become warm.  Phillip didn't tell anyone he had the stone, not even the sergeant.  He was starting to worry.  

“Let's rope the coffin for the trip,” Phillip said as they put it in the wagon.  He didn't want to take any chance of that coffin opening.  Now more than ever he regretted his failure to keep his promise.

The sergeant was in command and led the patrol.  Phillip stayed in the rear and kept close watch on the coffin, knowing full well he was dealing with the unnatural.  He just hoped they could get the coffin into the cave without incident.  

When they passed through the village of Herndon and Jim Soll's house, night was closing in.  Phillip knew they had no chance of completing the burial.

As they got closer to the Cogan's edge and the burial cave one of the men yelled out, “Sir, I see a demon down by the river's edge.”  

Everyone came to a halt.  Phillip rode up to him. “Where is this demon?” he asked.  

“Down there, sir, by the edge of the river; it looks like the outline of an Indian, and his eyes are glowing!”  Now all the men were looking.  The sergeant then saw what the soldier saw, “Do you see a body also?”

“I thought I did, sir,” he responded.  

“That's the sun reflecting off the river through those leaves.  Let's not see any more demons today.”  

“I swear I saw an Indian,” the soldier said.  

Even though it was explainable it put a chill in everyone.  The stone in Phillip's pocket was now getting even warmer; it was like it sensed its surroundings.  Phillip immediately made sure the coffin was intact and secured.  

When they reached the camping area he pulled the sergeant aside. “Sergeant, don't you think it would be a good idea to take turns guarding the wagon through the night?”  

One of the soldiers heard the suggestion and asked, “Why do we need to guard it?  All we have is a coffin and a dead body.”  Phillip didn't know quite how to respond.   

While the men set up camp he felt he needed to confide in the sergeant by telling him the truth.  “Sergeant, do you remember the stone that Poll Soll had when we captured him and his request to keep it?”

“Yes, of course.  You gave it back to him and said, ‘I don't think he can kill us with that.'

“That's exactly what I said.  I thought it was just a rock, and nothing more.  I have that stone here in my pocket.  My marriage was almost ruined because of the promise I broke; he has haunted me since his burial.  When we pulled the coffin out of the ground, I felt the stone get warm.  And the coffin, it's like the day we buried him.  While we were setting up camp the stone got even warmer.”  

The sergeant was skeptical. “You're not serious, lieutenant?  I thought it peculiar that the coffin was so intact, but I didn't give it a second thought.”

“I've never been more serious.”  

“May I see the stone?”

Phillip pulled it from his pocket.

The sergeant asked, “Can I touch it?”

Phillip held it out to him.

When he touched it, he pulled back in pain. “It burned my fingers!  Why doesn't it burn you?”

“It will, Sergeant.  I know it will, but things aren't ready yet.”

“What do you suppose is in that coffin, Lieutenant?”

“A soul is in there.”

The sergeant asked, “What do you think we're getting into tomorrow?”  

“I don't know, but that soul wants out.  That's why I think we need to guard it.”

“I don't know what to tell the men if we guard it.  I don't want to spook them or they won't help us tomorrow, and we'll need everyone.  It appears the ropes are holding. We just have to take a chance tonight.”

“You're right, Sergeant; we don't have to say anything about our suspicions.  Tomorrow we're going to deliver that coffin to where we found him and get out of there pronto.  Four men can carry the coffin and the rest can carry a torch, but you and I must be on the alert.”  

In the morning, one of the soldiers commented, “Sergeant, when I got up and looked in the wagon the ropes on the coffin seemed loose, like they were stretched.  Did someone loosen them?”

“I don't think so, but let's ask.  Did anyone unloosen the ropes on the coffin?”

The sergeant looked around.  Everyone shook their head no.    

Suddenly Phillip got a bad feeling.   

After breakfast both Phillip and the sergeant were anxious to complete the mission and leave.  

“Sergeant, are we ready?”  Phillip asked.

“I'm ready!”  He then proceeded to give his soldiers orders.  “Gentlemen, we are going to take the wagon as close to the burial cave as possible.  The Lieutenant and I know exactly where the cave is, but I'll let him lead.”  

One of the men responded, “Sir, I thought this burial detail was to dig a hole, put the coffin in, and leave.  You never said anything about a burial cave.”  

“Are you afraid of a cave, Cal?  It's the same thing, but we don't have to dig quite as hard.”  

“You have a point, sir,” Cal said.  

“Ok, let's go.  Lieutenant, you lead.”  

Phillip walked about fifty yards and stopped.  He could feel the fossil getting hot in his pocket. “Sergeant, this is as close as we can get.  Let's get this done as quickly as possible.” Phillip patted his pocket while the sergeant looked on.

“Alright, men, let's get the coffin off the wagon and set it on the ground.”  Four men grabbed the coffin.  “Those ropes might come in handy.  The rest of us can grab a torch, and let's be extremely careful; we don't want to drop the coffin going up this slope.  I don't want it coming open.  When we get to the entrance, stop.  The cave isn't far, another twenty five yards, but it's up the mountain.”   

Halfway one of the men stumbled over a branch and lost his grip on the coffin.  Fortunately, the sergeant was there to catch it.

“Sorry, sir, I didn't see that stick.”  The soldier said.

Soon the entrance became more visible to everyone.

When they stood in front the sergeant ordered, “Put the coffin down and let's take a break.  Lieutenant, how should we handle moving the coffin into the cave?”

By now the stone in Phillip's pocket was unbearable, he reached in and pulled it out of his pocket and laid it on the coffin.  The wood began to turn brown under it.  Everyone was in awe at the sight.  

“What the hell is that, sir?” one of the men yelled.

“It's a fossil, it belongs to the man in this coffin, and I'm giving it back.”

“May I touch it?”

“I wouldn't do that.  Sergeant, we'll tie handles on each end of the rope and slide it underneath.  Two men on each side should be able to lift the coffin easier and carry it to where we need to go.”

“I think that will work, Lieutenant.”

By this time the fossil was starting to smoke as it lay on the coffin.

“Sir, it's starting to smoke.”

“I can see that,” the sergeant said.

“Men, we need to get this coffin to where it belongs right now.  Light those torches, and grab the coffin.  I want everyone to keep their eyes and ears open.  Is everyone ready?”  Phillip asked.  “Sergeant, you don't mind if I take command?”

“No, not at all.  We'll follow you.”

As they entered, the soldiers were astonished.  They could see mounds everywhere.  

“What are these mounds, sergeant?” one asked.  

“They are burial mounds.”  

“Wow, this place is full of dead Indians,” he responded.  

“Men, let's be quiet and extra careful.”

As they were halfway into the cave the smell from the burning coffin was getting stronger.  

The men were now frightened. “I think we should turn back, Sergeant; this cave is haunted.  Let's set the coffin down and go.”  

Then Phillip commanded, “We're going on; we're almost there. Let's be quiet and hurry.”  

“Sergeant, I can see the stone has almost burnt through the coffin.  What happens when it does?” a soldier asked.  

“I don't know!  Phillip, there is light from a fire up ahead; we're not alone.”  

“I see it, Sergeant, but we must keep going,” he responded.

“Sergeant, I'm scared,” one of the men whispered.

“So am I.”  

They came to a point where there were no mounds, and they moved much faster.  Phillip could now see the fire and the spot where they captured Poll Soll.  

“Ten more feet, men; let's hurry.”  There was nobody at the fire.  There was nobody visible. The blankets, the skins; everything was just as it was when they captured him.  It was like the cave was waiting for him.    

“This is close enough. Set the coffin down, and let's run for the opening.”  

As they ran, they bounded over burial mounds and pushed each other to be first.  Several men stumbled over each other trying to get out.  Sergeant Koppenhaver stumbled head first pushing the dirt away from a mound.  To his horror he came face to face with Jim Soll's remains.  The Sergeant's eyes opened wide, as he pushed himself up and scurried on all fours toward the cave entrance.

As they approached the entrance there was an explosion like they'd never heard.  

Kaboom
!  

The blast had so much force that it blew everyone out of the cave.  As some lay there unconscious and others in shock, Phillip managed to watch the entrance completely collapse.  He could feel his soul being cleansed, the curse was gone, and his promise fulfilled.  He knew Poll Soll was home.  

At that very same moment, a tranquil feeling came over Ann.  She felt relieved in her mind and heart.  Poll Soll was where he wanted to be.  She knew Phillip accomplished his mission and would soon return.    

From that time on, no one has ever rediscovered that Indian burial cave.  The Cogan Road has been closed for years, but legend has it that at dusk hunters and hikers occasionally hear chanting that echoes throughout the Cogan. Some even swear they have seen a blood trail in the snow leading down the old road bed.