The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-07-31
THE BLUE RIDGE.
A Nights Adventures.


THE BLUE RIDGE.
Nights Adventures.
In the early autumn of the year 1849,
about half an hour of sunset, l 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 a
tavern, at least so a sign proclaimed,
and here determined to demand &C.
commodation for myself and servant
Bose. a dark-sAinned body guard. Bose
and had been playmates in child and
boyhood, and need hardly say that
the faithful fellow was attached to me
rs was to him, and on more than one
occasion he had shown his devotion.
There had been "shooting-match''
at the Mountain House that day, and,
as dismounted, l saw through the
open window of the bar-room 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.
tain"
II say, Mars Ralph" said Bose, in
a low tone, as handed him my bride
rein, IL don't like the looks of dem in
dar. S'pose we goes on to the next
house, faint fur"
Nonsense, Bose," replied, "these
fellows are only on little spree over
their shooting. We have nothing to do
with them, nor they with us. Take
the horses round to the stables and see
to them yourself You know they've
had hard day of it,
And throwing my saddle-bags over
my shoulders, walked up the narrow
path to the house.
found, as l 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 nv servant
could have accommodation for the
night.
Receiving an affirmative reply from
the landlord, little, red-headed, ca
demonstrating specimen of the
'clay-eater," ldesired to be at once
shown to my room, whittier l went,
but not until l had been compelled to
decline score of requests to stake a
drink much to the disgust of the
stalwart bacchanalians.
The room to which l was shown was
at the far end of long, two-story
structure, evidently but recently added
on to the main building, which il inter-
sected at right angles. A gallery ex.
tended along the front, by means OF
which the rooms were reached.
found my apartment to be large
and comparatively well furnished, there
being, beside the bed, comfortable
cot. half a dozed splint-bottom chairs,
heavy clothes press, and a bureau
with glass.
There were two windows, one along.
side the door, and the other in the op-
posite end of the room.
The first mentioned door was heavily
barred, with stout oak strips, pro-
lection, presumed, against intrusion
from the porch, while across the lat
ter door was drawn a heavy wooden
curtain.
In the course of half an hour Bose
entered, and announced that the horses
had been properly attended to, and q
few minutes later bright-faced mulat.
to girl summoned us to supper.
Supper over, l returned to my room
first requesting to be reused for an ear
ly breakfast, as l desired to be on the
road by sunrise.
Thoroughly wearied with my days
ride, at once began preparations fol
retiring, and had drawn off one boot,
when Bose came in rather hastily, look.
ing furtively over his shoulder, and
then cautiously closing and locking the
door.
"Mars Ralph, dar's gwine to be
trouble in dis house afore morning. -
he said.
And 1 saw in a moment that some
thing had occurred to upset the faithful
fellows equilibrium.
"Why, Bose, what is it? What dc
you mean?' l asked, barely restraining
a smile.
81 tole you, Mars Ralph, we'd bet
ter trabble furder," was the rather
mysterious reply. "You see dat yallel
gal dere tole me dar would he muss il
we stayed in this founded old house al
night.''
BY close questioning 1 elected the
fact that the girl had really warned
him that four men, whom / had noticed
together, were desperate set of vii
lains, and probably had designs upor
our property, if not our lives.
The girl had seen two of them at tn,
stable while l was at supper and, by
cautiously creeping into a stall, mex
the one in which they stood, had heare
enough to convince her that they mean
mischief. Subsequently to this she also
saw the landlord in close confab will
the entire party, and, from hb actions
judged that he was urging the men t.
their Eefarious work.
I" tell you, Mars Ralph, dem whit,
trash amt arter no good-now yo,
heard me-" persisted Bose.
l had begun to think SO myself; bu
what was to be done. The situation
was full of embarrassment, and l fel
that nothing could be done save t
wait and watch, and. by being on tn
alert, defeat their plans by a determine
resistance.
found that from the barred win
dow, in which there was broken pan
of glass, good view of the stable
could be had.
Then for the other window.
l crossed the room, drew aside tn
heavy curtain, and, raising the sash
looked out.
A single glance was sufficient t
cause me thrill of surprise, and 1 CAV
low exclamation that instantl
brought Bose to my side.
Far below could see the faint olim
mer of water, the low murmur of whic
came indistinctly up from the depth,
while, on level with what should hav
been the ground, dimly saw the wa,
ing tree-tops. as they gently swaye
before the fresh night breeze, and kne,
that the window overlooked q chasu
tho soundings Of which l could onl
guess at.