The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-06-14
Z NARROW ESCAPE.
BY A. L. c.

In the extreme northern and north
western frontiers of the State of Geor-
gia the country is one vast bed of
mountains, wild, rugged and pictures
que to superlative degree. For hours
the traveller viii pursue his solitary
way over these, without evera glimpse
of human habitation to cheer the
dreariness of the scene; and if, per-
chance, he is unluckily benighted in
this gloomy, out-of- the-way region a
thou sand perils, from dangerous preci-
pices, from dark yawning chasms, and
lurking wild beasts, constantly beset
his feet. ~.
A few years ago, Irecollect, business
led me to the little town of Batesville,
and my route thither lay directly
through this almost entirely abandon
ed tract of country. I made the jour
ney on horseback, and the first days
ride was agreeable enough in itself /;
for as yet had not left the borders of
civilization, and there was plenty to be
seen to relieve the tedious monotony
of the ride. But ON the second day,
after passing over o few miles, the
road began to grow rougher, and the
towns and fields to present themselves
only at rare intervals, till at length,
about ten o'clock, l struck into the
mountain desert. Is
Through this all day long, and until
nightfall, pursued every course with
out seeing a single human being; and
when saw that night was actually at
hand | made UP my mind that | would
be forced to spend it there alone, with
out shelter, and exposed to all the
dangers of the place of which I had
heard so much. fet sn.a s
was revolving this matter in my
mind, and trying to urge my faded
horse on faster, so as to make as much
use of the lingering twilight as posi-
BILE, when, on turning the brow of a
toilsome hill, a faint, glimmering light,
at some distance ahead of me, greeted
my eye.
| My first thoughts we're of the hospi-
table Georgia mountaineers (every
traveller who has been in the mountains
of Georgia knows them,) and pattine
my horse upon the neck I exclaimed
aloud, ."Cheer mp! here are signs of {
comfortable nights lodging for Ut
both, without spending it alone in the
woods aud among the mountains, al
that"
The poor, tired creature seemed in
stinctively to understand, for instantly
prickling up his ears he gave Sigh
neigh and started in full trot.
There was path leading from tn.
main road toward where the light came
from, and, as it had not grown totally
dark yet, l had no difficulty in gaining
it. This cautiously pursued till
StShio w " AuAO CiUIA} NHACi SlOou III
small clearing some hundred yards
from the highway, and which l gladly
hailed as harbinger of rest.
| Dismounting and throwing the REIN
Of the bride over a post that stood il
the yard, / walked up to the door ant
raped loudly.
"Who's there % came the surly voice
of man from within. q
"a traveller replied, "who seeks
nights lodging" 5
In moment the door was opened
and the same surly voice babe me t,
come in. 4
The hut was small one, and yer,
shabbily furnished. The only occu
/ pants were a man and woman, boil
Jill, sonr-looking, people, who eyed nj
closely upon my entrance.
Z The man was short-set, burly fig
ure, of middle age, perhaps, and wear
ing the unmistakable garb of a hunter
His countenance was low and villain
Gus; his eyes were small, grey, ant
l. 4