The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1877-11-15

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" afterwards the Sheriff aud his dep. |
mites started off to the southwark,
toward . bend in the river, where
the crew Of Aatboat had been rob-
bed only . few days before. My
course lay TO The eastward, a. I had
business at Cahawba /
"You'd q made il better" said my
host. ii you'd crossed the river at
Bluffpost. In that case you'd a had
q direct road TO Cahawba; but now
you've got TO take nearly half the
distance iu wild cat road aud mule
path. Howsomever, II you've got q
good boss, you'll make out ! reckon.
that is, IL you don't get picked up
by the pirates"
had been aware OF the character
Of the road that lay before me, and
bad rather preferred il TO the better
route to the northward. had plen-
ty Of time, aud liked TO see these
out-of.the way plantations, and as
far a. hospitality, it was oil alike.
/ was at home everywhere. With
one or two exceptions it seemed to
be the chief aim Of the planters to
make my stay with them as sgreea-
bic as possible; and | found more
difficulty in getting away from their
doors than did in gaining en-
trance.
sat out Of the settlement at
eight o'clock, and at the distance Of
some Ave or six miles met n man
who informed me that the water was
too high for q comfortable fording
at Linden Creek. and that would
find it pleasant to turn to the south
ward, and go below the Big Brake |:
referring to cane brake not far dis
tant which covered several hundred
acres VI the rich bottom land. This
was a route but little travelled, but
minded not that SO long as there
was a plain path so logged along
upon this new way, which found to
be dreary aud lonesome enough. I
had no fear Of robbers, but still the
character Of the road was calculated
to excite ones caution, aud in
stinctively drew out my revolver and
examined the charges, and the caps :;
and when had done this I slipped
it into the side-pocket Of my sack,
where could reach it most handily.
After this 1 whistled, and then I
sang a few verses OF an old song,
for the purpose. 1 suppose. Of con-
vincing the birds that I was very
cheerful and easy.
BY aud by l reached q point
where the path crossed little
stream, and here I was joined by q
horsenan who had come out from
the timber to the eastward. As his
beast had been drinking, did not
notice him until I was close upon |
him. lie was middle.sged man,
of medium size, dressed in q com.
mon hunting garb. and carrying q
rifle before him upon his saddles
bow. II this man was really hum
ter, ! thought he was entirely differ.
ent from other hunters had met 10
that country. His clothes we're vast
ly better, and he lacked the free and
easy off-hand way OF your genuine
forester. He hailed me as though
he was surprised to see me there.
and | could not divest myself of the
impression that he regarded me as
m interloper. He looked at me
sharply, and as he drew up near my
side he asked:
"Do you belong in these parts 7"
II struck me then that he might
be an officer looking after the river
pirates. I told him that I was q
stranger in that section, travelling
partly for my health, and partly on
business furthermore told him that
was on my way to Cahawba.
He looked at me again, taking q
,areful survey Of my whole figure,
md then remarked, as we started
away from the brake
81 s'pose the Greek il full ~
"Yss." said !.
"And so you have to come this
way ?"
I said "yes," again.
''That's partly the case with me"
he said, "though I ain't going ex>
lctly your way for any great dis
sance. Rather o lonesome road,
sn't it,"
1T is, certainly"
"Not very pleasant place to meet
'obbers," he suggested.
/ admitted be was correct.
"Have you heard anything about
hose chaps 7"
"You mean the robbers 7"
"Yes."
now felt sure that my cempau'
ON was detective, aud I told him !,
What had seen and heard at the
nm where I had last stopped. He
vaa deeply interested-very deeply |,
Interested and ventured TO sug.
rest that he might be searching af-
er those very villains. II
do you really think 80 :" he
lsked.
told him I thought 10 from the
irst.
'.Zounds T.. he muttered, with a
mile ~ must be more careful, or I |,
shall expose myself too much"
Then be acknowledged that be
vas 90 oflcer, and a. we rode on I Il
old him all 1 had heard concerning 4