The North-Carolinian., 1856-03-08
adventures in the Baekwoods.

uieafy forest No roads, nothing but horses
paths through the woods; and the only marks
to guide the traveller upon his journey were the
"blazes" and 'notches' upon the trees | was
dressed IN true backwoods fashion, and l rode
flry mustang, with q name and tail as white
as snow, a beautiful arched neck and an eve
Ike an eagle. He was perfect beauty, and
as feet as the wind. Across his back I had
Ihroun q Iair OF saddle bags. containing, on Que
piece of bacon, and to balance them there vas
n pile Of recks' in the other end in the shape
of two thousand dollars in gold, which had
collected, and was transporting to bank in
Kentucky, to dispose of for eastern exchange.
Two large wooden stirrups hung dangling from
my saddle, and the holsters in front contained
two beauties, in the shape of enormous horse
pistols. Over these, to keep them dry, were
the squirrel skin covers.
| had been riding for several hours, swim
ming the rivers that crossed my path, snuffiny
in the rich perfume of the forest flowers
watching the squirrels playing about in the
tree-tops, and listening to the music which
issued from the throats of the thousands Of
briyht-winged songsters with which the woods
abounded. had not seen solitary human
being since morning, and night rapidly
approaching; indeed it had already begun to
grow dark, and had made up my mind |
would have to 'camp out" for the night /
was looking around to select some good place.
ahead of ME, and presently | saw two men
approaching Oh horseback. They rough
looking fellows, dressed i'll hunting shirts and
with squirrel-skn caps on their heads. l did
not like their looks, and, unseen by them, |
drew up my pistols, and cooking them, replaced
them in the holsters, aud casting my eyes
ahead | of them make motion did
not like. l resolved that if they proved to be
what | suspected, l would give them hard
light and die game
"Pshaw! what a fool [ was!' thought l. as
they rode up and babe me good evening. We
converscd about five minutes, when one of them
said:
My youngSter, what have you got in your
saddle-bags that rattles so?"
'Nails," l replied
"Nails!' said he. "Hey, Bill, let's examine
the artice!' and he seized my horse 10y tie
bit
Quick lightning l drew my pistols, and
pointing a muzzle to each of their hearts, said:
''Gentlemen, make motion to draw a wea-
pom, and that motion seals your fate!'
They were completely taken by surprise, and
wheeling their horses around, they struck off
into the forest. After getting few rods off,
one of them raised his fist in thrcatning at
ttude. | drew the trigger of my rigbt-hand
pistol: and the villains arm fell upon his saddle
and uttering yell of agony they darted off
into the woods | reloaded my pistol struck
miles of the fastest riding | ever experienced, l
reached Lighthouse, where l put up for the
night.
Two years after the incident jnst noted took
place, l was travelling down the Mississippi on
an old-fashoned boat, when my attention was
attracted towards individual on board whom
| thought had met before, but where could
not tell / was determined to follow him up,
and see if could not call to mind where we
had met and under what circumstances. At
last l found opportunity to get look at
him. as he was seat ed old barrel head
earnestly engaged in game of "scven up" /
stepped up and looking his shoulder, per-
ceived that two fingers of his right hand were
missing. The game progressed, until, i'll an
exciting moment he rose. and shaking his hist
in the face of his opponent, i'll answer to some
remark of the latter concerning the game,
exclaimed:
Il swear you ie!'
l placed my hand upon his shoulder, and
turning him around
"Ahi ha!" exclaimed, "we've met bcfore..'
Lifting his manned hand his face turned
white as a sheet, and, hoarse with passion, he
vociferated:
eyes. we have met before, in the woods OF
Tennessee, and have sworn that you shall die
Take l,:at!"
And the wretch attempted to draw pistol
from his coat, but the trigger caught in the
ragged lining of his pocket-it went off, and he
rolled overheard into the muddy waters Of the
MissIssippi-a corpse!
AN ExPERIMENT-We have heard a good
story concerning a certain town liquor agency
not a hundred miles from Hartford which will
do to print. A free and easy looking Gust omcr
appiied to the storekeeper for pint Of rum
! sslor mechanical purposes" 1t was furnished
him, and he disappeared, but rot long after
wards again presented himself at the counter
for another pint.
What arc you going to do with ths?" asked
the bartender.
.sO" said the customer. eve are using il
for mechanical purposes just up here in the
next street."
The liquor measured out, paid for, ant
disappeared. In the course of hour tn,
same customer more appeared for thiro
pint This the agent thought best to refuse
him until he was better satisfied Of the use t.
which it was to be appropriated.
''What you doing with much rum?"
90, its all right; party of US are trying a,
experiment, and obliged to use this in carry
ing it out successfully"
The agent handed out the liqnor, and asked
| as his customer received it, 'W hat is YOU
experiment."
''Why, the fact is" said Mr. Coon, jammin
| the bottle safely into his pocket, "a couple of Il
are trying to see whether we can get drunk O
your rum. We have punished quart of it s
| TAR without much success, and either or tn
rum will have to give it up Oh this bottle"
| ~>~~>~~~~~~~~~~~>>>>>>~
| \ yonnr lady left her church ard IOin G