The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1883-09-26
laughter. She was not devoid of charms


II want pa to leave this place" she
said. "Mother pined away and died
from sheer loneliness, and if Iwerc not
so ight-hrOrted, 1 think should go that
way too"
"Do you ever see any Of the Illicit dis.
tillers ?" I asked,
II expect | see them, but don't
know them, Of course. They are terri.
bic when they get mad but as long as
they are not disturbed yot wouldn't
know that they were in the ncighbor.
hood. When we moved here they re-
garded pa with lingering suspicion, but
finally, satisfied that he Was in no way
connected with the government, they
dismissed their apprehensions and have
over since treated him with the utmost
courtesy. Pa is making money ont OF
the coffin business, but It is such grim
trade that cannot half enjoy any fnan.
cial benefit that we derive from It. Say,
you're hunting for the wild cats, aint
you?"
"Hush, don't talk so lond."
"Nobody can hear lis, but you are,
amt you?'
Suppose I were, do you think I
would tell any onef"
Il heard you tell father, but it's all
right ! won't say anything about it.
[ haven't any friends among the wild
cats, and for my part ! wouldn't care if
they were all in prison"
II remained several days longer, and
hen decided to return to the city, report
lnfavorably, adopt other measures; and
rgain take up the enterprise, Anderson
advised me to sell the horse and 90 down
with a flat boat load of collins. l did
not like the idea, but rejecting that it
would he safer, disposed of my horse,
md was soon ready for the voyage.
j bade my friends an atfectionate fare
we'll, and stood on n coffin big enough
'or the Cardiff giant, and waved my
| handkerchief Mt Sophia Anderson MS the
boat rounded the bend. We had started
early, and by the time the shadows be.
gan to lengthen, we were long distance
from Dripping Spring. 1t seemed to
me that the men on the boat watched
ne curiously, for every time / walked
round it appeared that one of them fol-
lowed me. My suspicious increased as
evening came on and wien ] saw the
men engaged in n whispered conversa-
ton, was convinced that violence was
mcditated. Happening to notice II cof-
| i'm on which several others wcrc piled,
saw something dripping from it. Just
then | looked up and saw gun levelcd
| It me. In another instant bullet
whiHzcd close to my head, SO close that
| [ fell backward into the water. did
not lose my presence of mind and kept
myself under water as long as possihl
When |. arose to the surface, scvcra
other shots were fired, and sinking again
remained under water until / reached
the shore, which fortunately was not fo
Iwnv, when | arose under thick cluml
Of willows. Through the gathering dark
ness | could dimly see the men, am
could hear the splashing Of au oar whicl
knew was manipulated to keep the
boat from floating down.
81 reckin' he's all right" said one O
the men.
81 know he is" n grlff voice replied
"fer / dawed bead on his head, an {
man what kin hit halter dollar sixty
Yards amt no slouch of shooter, lcmmt
tell yer. Bet he's got bullet through
his brain, ef he's got any BRAIN.
"I'd mther bet on the bullet than tn,
BRAIN" the first speaker rcjoined.
"We've got to be certain about thcs
things" said man who seemed to be il
authority. "You know what Anderson
orders is. Git boat thar, Jack, an yoI
an Tom paddle ont thar awhile. G
out thar to them willows"
The boat was lowered and the splash
ing of the oars came nearer and nearer
My heart bent violently. Great God
the moon came out and shonc full on m,
face. / eased myself down until onl,
the tip of my nose was above the surface
"Thank heaven" / brcathed MS II clou,
obscurcd the moon Just AS the boa
brushed the willows. They struck unde
with their oars, actually struck me once
and Just as was about to seize the boa
and take my chances of turning it owe
and escaping, one of them said:
"He's all right, I tell you. Think
can't hit mans head? Shove her of,
and.I breathed a prayer as the dip of th'
oars grew fainter.
remained in this uncomfortable posi-
ton about q half hour longer, thcl
drew myself out and was soon travelling
through the woods. After terrible
Journey of hunger and fatigue / rcacho
Little Rock and made my report.
Several days aftcrward l was agai
en- route for Dripping Spring, this tim
with strong posse OF men. Touchln
, White river near the place where l ha
fallen overheard, we dismomted to res
, We had not been there very long until "
! saw the coffin boat returning. secrete
myself and ordered my men to comp
the boat to land and to bring the men
: our resting place, instructing them as
{ form of interrogation.
I When hailed they readily compile
i and approached the bank. They d
not seem to like 80 much attention, II
they'd not move up the bank with AZ
|, great degree of alacrity.
u 800 you know" said one OF my me-
d "What became of United States oflici
e named Griddlewood, who came up he
u ,me time agop"
!, "No, sir" replied the captain OF IL
d coffin boat, "but I heard that he hs
bought piece o land over the mou
:, tains an has opened farm,
u "Did you ever meet him ?"
). "Believe did meet him once at M
y Anderson's house. 'Peered to me Ill
n he was sorter in love with the AndersC
= gal." -.
J, Z "Don't suppose that I could find hin
. do you?" ..
a "Mout find him il you wuster go ov
:, !, the hills"
II "That's unnecessary, remarke
c" stepping from behind Q Tree and co
Eo | A., -. La,l, and y,raya1 thaE thoir 1iy