Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1856-09-24
Adventure in the Backwoods.

In the summer of 1916 / was travelling
on business in the western part of Tennes-
see. That portion of the State which lies
between the Tennessee and the Mississip-
pi, was at that time wild, dreary forest.
No roads, nothing but horse paths through
the woods and the only marks to guide
| the traveller upon his journey were the
/ : blazess and notches" upon the trees.--
was dressed in true backwoods fashion,
and rode fiery mustang, with name
and tail as white as snow, a beautiful
archeds neck and an eye like an eagle
He was a perfect beauty, and as feet as
the wind. Across his back had thrown
a pair Of saddle bags, containing on one
side dozen ponce" of corn bread and
piece Of bacon, and to balance them was
a pile Of rocks" in the other end in the
shape of two thousand dollars in gold,
which I had collected and was transport
ing to bank in Kentucky to dispose of
for eastern exchange. The large wooden
stirrups hung dangling from my saddle,
and the holsters in front contained two
beauties in shape of enormous horse PTS
tolls. Over these to keep them dry were
the squirrel skin covers.
/ | had been riding for several hours,
swimming the river that crossed my path,
snufing in the rich perfume of the forest
flowers, watching the squirrels playing
about the tree tops, and listening to music
which issued from the threats of thous-
annds of bright winged-songsters with
which the woods abounded. | had not
seen solitary human being since morn
ing, and plight Yas,rapidly approaching
indeed It HaGF already begun to grow
dark, and | Had made up my mind |
would have to capp out for the night
was looking around to see some good
place, when | was startled by the neigh
ing of a horse ahead of me, and presently
| saw two men approaching on horseback.
They were rough looking fellows, dressed.
in hunting shirts, with squirrel skin caps
on their heads. l did not like their looks
and unseen by them I drew up my pistols
and cooking them, replaced them in the
holsters, and casting my eye ahead | saw
one of the men make motion | did not
like, [ resolved that if they proved to be
what I suspected I would give them a
hard fight and die game.
4 Pshaw what fool was p thought
l, as they rode and babe me good evening.
one of them said:
My youngster, what have you got in
your saddle-bags that rattle so ?"
Nails r | replied.
Nails p said he "Hey Bill, let's ex-
anime the articles" and he seized my
horse by the bit.
Quick as lightning drew my pistols,
and pointing o muzzle to each of their
breasts, said
Gentlemen, make motion to draw
weapon, and that motion seals your fate. !"
They were taken completely by surprise
and wheeling their horses around struck
off into the forest. After getting few
rods off, one of them raised his fist, in a
threatening attitude. | drew the trigger
of my right hand pistol and the villains
arm fell upon his saddle; and uttering
yell of agony they darted into the woods.
I reloaded my pistols, struck my spurs
into my horses sides, and after ten miles
of the fastest riding I ever experienced,
reached log house where put up for
the night,l i
4 Two tye a 5' 4 W JUST nOLeu
took place down the
Mississippi ed Boat when
my attentid| 8 tstractSx toward an in
dividual on board whom | thought had
met before, but where I could not tell
| was determined to follow him up, and
see if I could not call to mind where we
had met and under what circumstances.
At last ! found an opportunity to get
look at him as he was seated on an old
barrel head, earnestly engaged in game
of e seven up" / stepped up and looking
over his shoulder, perceived two fingers
of his right hand were missing. The
game progressed until in an excited mo-
ment, he arose and shaking his fist in the
face of his opponent in answer to some re-
mark of the latter concerning the game,
exclaimed,
II swear you lie"
j | placed my hand upon his shoulder and
4 turning him around, exclaimed:
"Ah ha | we've met beforep
Lifting his manned hand, his face turn
ed white as sheet, and hoarse with pas
sion he vociferated:
eyes we'vemet before, in the woods
of Tennessee, and I have sworn that you
shall die Take that |"
And the wretch attempted to draw a
pistol from his coat, but the trigger
caught in the ragged lining of his pocket
it went off, and he rolled overheard in
to the muddy waters Of the Mississippi
a corpsel