Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1879-07-29
A Midnight Struggle.


In the early autumn of the year 1649
about half an hour of sunset, | drew
rein in front of a large double log house
on the very summit of the Blue Ridge
mountains of Eastern Kentucky.
The place was evidently kept as 6
tavern, at least so a sign proclaimed
and here / determined to demand ac.
commodation for myself and servant
Bose. a dark-skinned body-guard Bose
and had been playmates in child and
boyhood, and [ need hardly say that
the faithful fellow was attached to me
as was to him, and on more than one
occasion he had shown his devotion.
There had been ''shooting match u
at the Mountain House that day, and,
as / dismounted, saw through the
open window of the barroom a noisy,
drunken, and evidently a quarrelsome
set of backwoodsmen, each of whom
was swearing by all possible and i'm
possible oaths that he was not only the
best shot, but that he could Outright,
out-jump, out-wrestle, run faster, jump
higher, dive deeper and come up dryer
than any other man "on the noun
tains."
'' / say, Mars Ralph,n said Bose, in a
low tone. as | handed him my bride
rein, +" I don't like the looks of dem dar.
S'pose we goes on to the next house !;
taint fur
Nonsense, Bose,n I replied; "these
fellows are only on little spree over
their shooting. We have nothing to do
with them nor they with us. Take the
them yourself. You know they've had
q hard day of it."
And throwing my saddle-bags over
my shoulders, / walked up the narrow
path to the house,
| found, as | have intimated, the bar
room filled with a noisy, turbulent
crowd. who one and all stared at me
without speaking as / went up to the
bar and inquired if | and my servant
could have accommodation for the night.
Receiving an affirmative reply from
the landlord, a little, red-headed,
eadaverous-looking man, desired to be
at once shown to my room, whittier
went. but not until had been compelled
to decline a score of requests to take a
drink" much TO the disgust of the stall
wart bacchanalians.
The room to which I was shown was
at the far end Of a long two story struc-
ture, evidently but recently added on to
the main building, which it intersecte ed
at right angles. A gallery extended
along the front, by means of which the
rooms were reached.
| found my apartment to be large and
comparatively well furnished, there
being, besides the bed, comfortable
cot, half 4 dozen "splint bottomed"
chairs, u heavy clothes press, and a
bureau with glass. ~
'Thprp xuara mo =, orryp ~, n ~ l<.,.,~
side the door, and the other in the oppo-
site end of the room.
The first mentioned door was heavily
barred with stout oak strips, protec-
tion, presumed, against intrusion from
the porch, while across the latter door
was drawn heavy wooden curtain.
In the course of half an hour Bose
entered and announced that the horses
had been properly attended to, and a few
minutes later a bright-faced mulatto
girl summoned us to supper
Supper over, | returned to nv room.
first requesting to be reused for an early
breakfast, as desired to be on the road
by sunrise.
Thoroughly wearied with my DAVIS
ride, at once began preparations for re-
firing, and had drawn off one boot. when
Bose came in rather hastily, looking
furtively over his shoulder, and then
cautiously closing and locking the door.
Mars Ralph, dars gwine to he
trouble in dis house afore morning. he
said.
And l saw in moment that some
thing had occurred to upset the faithful
fellows equilibrium.
Why, Bose, what is itp What do
you meanP" | asked, barely restraining a
smile.
Il tole you, Mars Ralph, we'd better
trabbel furder." was the rather mysteri-
Gus reply. g You see dat gal dere tole
me dar would be a muss if we STAYED in
this old house all night"
By close questioning elected the fact
that the girl had really warned him that
four men whom / had noticed together
were a desperate set of villains. and
probably had designs upon our property.
if not our lives.
The girl had seen two of them at the
stable while was at supper, and by
cautiously creeping into stall, next the
one in which they stood, had heard
enough to convince her that they meant
mischief. Subsequently to this she also
saw the landlord in close confab with
the entire party, and from his actions
judged that he was urging the men to
their nefarious work.
81 tell you. Mars Ralph, dem people
amt arter no good-now YOU heard me.
persisted Bose. "a
had begun to think so myself: but
what was to be done. The situation
was fullof embarrassment, and felt that
nothing could be done save to wait and
watch, and. by being on the alert, defeat
their plans by determined resistance.
j found that from the barred window.
in which there was a broken pane OF
glass, a good view of the stables could
be lad. ff -
Then for the other window.
Z crossed the room, drew aside the
heavy curtain, and, raising the sash,
looked out.
A single glance was sufficient to cause
me thrill Of surprise, and gave low
exclamation that instantly brought Bose
to my side,
Far below could see the faint glim-
ner Of water, the low murmur of which
came indistinctly up from the depths,
while on level with what should have
been the ground dim1v SAW the xrav;,,o a