South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1878-02-15

] hOSS saul OilSI us WIS SOulc COLI
Indian corn cakes aud slice OF dried
deer flesh, TO all OF which we were heart
lily welcome. These viands in our starry
ing condition were luxuries to us, aud
we literally revelled in anticipation of
a fall meal. The hut into which we had
so tremendously entered was OF the
most poverty stricken order. II con
sisted OF but one room, with n rude brick
fireplace at the end. Some deer skins
and old blankets were stretched ont by
way of bel at the other extremity OF
the apartment, and the only seats visi-
bic were two sections OF large pine
trunk that stood close to the fireplace.
There was no vestige OF table. and the
rest OF the furniture was embodied in a
long Tennessee rifle that hung close TO
the rough wall.
III the hat was remarkable, its proprie.
tor was still more SO, He was, think,
the most villainous looking man ever
beheld. About six feet three inches in
height. proportionately broad across the
shoulders AMI with hand large enough
TO pick up 56-pound shot. he seemed
90 be n combination of extraordinary
strength and agility. His head was
narrow & oblong in shape. His straight,
Indian.li!le hair fell SIN ,othly over his
low forehead, rs il il had been plasterel
there with soap. And his black, beat
like eyes were set o5liquelv and slanted
downward5 towards his nosa. giving him
mingled expression Of ferocity and
cunning. As L examined his features
attentively, in which thought | could
trace almost every bal passion. con
Tess experienced certain feeling OF
apprehension and distrust | could not
shake of.
While he was getting us the promised
food we tried, 10y questioning him, TO
draw him into conversation. lie seem.
ed very tacituIn and reserved. lie said
he lived entirely alone, and had cleared
the spot he occupied with his own hauis.
lie said his name was Joel, but when
we limited he must have some other
name he pretended not TO hear us,
though saw his brows knit and his
small black eyes fash angrily. My
suspicious of this man were further o.
reused by observing pair of shoes ly'
Ing in corner Of the hut. These shoes
were about three sizes smaller than those
! that our gigantic host wore, and yet he
hal DISTINCTLY replied that lie lived en-
| tirely alone. If those shoes were not his
whose were they? The more l reflected
on this circum stance the more uneasy
! 7 felt, and apprchensions still fur
ther aroused when Joel. IS he called
himself, took both OF our fowlingr pieces
AMI. in order TO have them out of our
way as lie said, hung than Oh crook:
from the walls. a. a light that neitlier
of us could reach without getting on s
stool | smiled inwardly, however, a:
| | felt the barrel Cf my revolver that wa
slung in the hollow OF my back By it
leatheru helt, and thought TO myself II
this fetlow has any bad designs, the more
I-unprofecte lie thinks rs the more en-
cautious he will be; so | male no effor
to retain our guns. Sly friend Dick a.!
50 hal q revolver, AMI was one Or thos,
men who 4 knew would use it when the
time came.
My suspicion OF our host grew at las
TO such pitch that I determined L
communicate them 10 Dick Nothing
would be easier for this villain1us hall
breed for I felt convinced he had In
dian blood in him, nothing could be ea
sier than with the aid Of an accomplish
to cut our throats or shoot us while W,
were asleep. and 50 get our suns, w9tehe.
and whatever money we carry. Who, il
these lonely WOO Is woulF herr tbs shot
Tor hear our cries for help? What ennis
sary OF the Law. however sharp. cOulC
point out our graves in these wild woods
or bring the murder home to those wht
committed it2 Linton at first laughed
thon grew seriohs.a gradually becnm,
a convert to my approximations. w,
hurrielly agreed that Viii e one slept TIN,
other should watch, @1d so take it IL
turns during the night.
Joel hal surrendered to US his coucI
Of deer skin and his Blanket; he him5el /
said nc could sleep quite a. well on tn,
tlOor near the FIRE. A. Dick aud wert
both very tired, we we're anxious 10 ge
on; rest as soon a possible. So, ate
d hearty meal Of deer-stealI aud tougI
cakes. washed down w. g GOOD draugh
from our brandy flask, / being TN,
younger, GOT the first hours sleep, anC
flung myself on the couch OF skins. a.
my eyes gradually closed. 7 saw n din
picture Of Dick seated stefnly watching
10y the fire anil tse long shape Of thC
half-brced stretching cut like a huge
shadow upon the floor.
After what [ could have sworn TO be-
q three ninutos' dOze. Dick wOl.c me
and informed me that ny hour was out
aud turning NC out OF my warm nest
lay dC8n without any ceremony, and in
q. q
rubbed my eyes. felt Tor nay revolver
and seating myseif on che Of the pine
/ stumPa, commenced my watch The
I hall-Dreed seemed TO be buried in q
/ profound slumbcr. and go the half-woird
iight cast Oy The wood oubers, his enor.
nous Squire seemed almost Titanic I'm
rs proportions. confess I felt that in
q struggle for life lie was more than Dick
could manage. then poked at the fire.
aud began n fGvorite amusement OF mine.