mysterious booming sound occasionally heard on Lake
Seneca (and on neighboring Lake Cayuga), which has been
given a variety of scientific, literary, and legendary
interpretations.}

It is not many lustrums since curiosity induced an idler, a
traveler, and one possessed of much attainment derived
from journeys in distant lands, first to inquire closely into
all the traditions connected with these two peculiarities of
the Seneca, and, having thus obtained all he could, to lead
him to make the tour of the entire lake, in the hope of
learning more by actual personal observation. He went up
and down in the steamboat; was much gratified with his
trip, but could see or hear nothing to help him in his
investigation. The "Gun" had not been heard in a long
time, and no one could tell him what had become of the
"Wandering Jew." In vain did his eyes roam over the broad
expanse of water; they could discover nothing to reward
their search. There was an old man in the boat, of the
name of Peter, who had passed his life on the Seneca, and
to him was our traveler referred, as the person most likely
to gratify his curiosity. Fuller (for so we shall call the
stranger for the sake of convenience) was not slow to
profit by this hint, and was soon in amicable relations with
the tough, old, fresh-water mariner. A half-eagle
opportunely bestowed opened all the stores of Peter's lore;
and he professed himself ready to undertake a cruise,
even, for the especial purpose of hunting up the "Jew."

{lustrum = a period of five years; half eagle = a U.S. gold