Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1882-07-06
A BORDER ADVENTURE.

| The close of August, $780, found me by
one of those straoge freaks fortune is ever
playing 90 US poor mortals, alone aud on
horseback, following one of the Widest,
drenriest roads | ever ohanoed upon.
need not stop to relate tho occurrences of
events that led me to tako this trip to the
far West, as it In no way concerns my
story. Suffice to say, it was necessary for
me to carry concealed in belt around my
person several thousand dollars in hard
cash. AS may be supposed this did not
tend to lesson the vague sense of four that
had held from the start, especially when
| knew we'll the fact th,t tho route through
which l was to pass was infested by q band
of lawless robbers, who would hesitate to
commit no crime that might place them in
tho way to enrich themselves was armed
to the teeth, however, and resolved not to
yied my treasure.
Among tho band Of outlaws who infested
tho route was wild, sworthy half-brccd
known as Red GuImont;' he was loader Of
the company. 1t was well known that he
Was the pcrpetrator of countless murders;
and though heavy rewards were offered for
his capture aud delivery at Burksvi|lc, then
small frontier settlement, be had as yet
eluded oil pursuit, aud seemingly safe in
his unknown retreat, still followed his illegal
calling This, as may readily bo expected
served to place mo more on my guard; aud
[ had reached the half way point of my
journey unmolestcd. had begun to en- :
tertain tho hope that should reach my
destination safely, when an event ocurrcd
which aroused my suspicious and sent
shade of doubt through my mind.
Late in the afternoon Of durk, gloomy
day found me thirty miles from my last
halting place. AS yet 1 had noticed
nothing that excited my suspicious, save
indeed, solitary horsomau who came up
behind me ut a slow paco, now and then
disappearing entirely around some thickly
wooded bend in the road. ilo might be o
traveller like myself whom business had
sent in the direction of Burksville
Having thus settled this point dis
missed the subject altogether from my
MUD, till the low growl of thunder behind
me gave warning tho storm that had so
long been gathering was about to burst
upon me. Looking back on the level road
| had passed [ was somewhat surprised to
find that tho strange horsemun had disap.
peared; and not human being met my
gaze. For the first time during the DIV
feeling of grave suspicion crept over me-
What had become of my fellow traveller?
Stay; perhaps he had halted at some Of
the lonely cabins that were scattered along
the route. This thought furnished me
some satisfaction till [ remembered, with
despondiDg heart, that he had passed no
cabin for the last two hours. The little
struggling settlements that thus FIR oheered
my route seemed to have vanished, and no,
thing met my gaze save o long da,k stretch
of thick foliage wood penetrated alone by the
narrow road l was following. | gave 8
hasty glunce at the lowering aspect of the
sky behind, and dashiug the spurs into my
noble horses flank, I rodo smartly for
ward, solely intent on gaining soue place
of shelter.
l had proceeded but short distance in
this way when my horse started sharply
buck, pricking up his ears and snorting
wildly. l drew up tho bride check tightly
aDd looked carefully around mc in the vain
attempt to learn what had startled my
stecd so violently. Dismountiug, led my
horse slowly forward, cautiously pulling
aside the bushes that skirted the road on
either side, and pecring through into the
forest. Nothing of a suspicious character
ne' MY 6aHo "uu ooaipS " tuc couciuSlOn
that my horse hud teen frightened at some
pusBing object, possibly squirrel, l was
about to leap into the saddle again whom
bit of paper fastened to bush, caught my
attention. Hastily advancing grasped
the paper and unfolding it, read:
| "About three miles ahead is the old
Three Oak Inp.' DO pot turn at fork
of the road which you will find about mile
on from here. Ii you do look out for
trouble"
"Well, l must say this is q strange
episle. Who, wonder, has taken so
much trouble to warn me of danger? Ha!
This might be only o trap to get mo into
danger. [ will turn at the fork in tho road.
Come, Rover" kept on ns [ vauItcd into
the saddle, "wo must wait here no longer.
There is storm gathering over the hills,
and We must be looking for shelter"
Even as | spoke gust of wind, accom-
panied by few drops Of rain precursory of
tho coming storm greeted us from behind,
and touching rover slightly on the side
with roy whip wo bounded forward into the
fast gathering darkness. l intended 10
reach the Three Oak Inn, if possible, be-
foro the force Of the tempest ca'no upon US.
Hardly had we past hundred yards when
the gale broke in fury around u.s. 1t was
not long ore reached the fork in the road
and though had previously resolved to
follow the turn, l almost instinotively
halted at tho fork and delibcrated hastily
upon my best plan for cotton. 1t might be,
as the strange message said, that there
| was danger on tho straight road. but the