The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-07-12
HKIVERFDg

H "KIVERED.S
Were asked 20 name the races of the
South l should answer: White. black
and the mountalneer.' The latter be
longs 10 a distinctive race, While he
may be classed with the Whine a faras
color goes, his iastes, habits, Character
istics and mode Of life are peculiarly his
own. Ii he likes you he will make any
sacrifice to Obiige you. II he mates YOU
he VIII seek your life with a deteTminn
ton which nothing can damp. The
great world beyond his mountain nom.
IL sealed book to him. He lives In
himself, and for himself,
l was riding over that spur of the
Cumberland mountains which General
Morgan tederaD held SO CALAMITY while
Buel and Bragg were driving each other
by turns over Kentucky, when lost my
way. lhe mountain trails Of the South
are dangerous puzzles TO stranger.
lhey run up and dOwn-lwist-luru-
dodge-lose themselves in dark rayInes
and seem to suddenly end in dark aud
ionely gaps. There ID feeling of luneli-
ness winch you cannot shake off, and a
teeilng oil anxiety which rides with you
and Keeps every sense alert. Every rod
Oh the traii mas us ambush, aud every
quarter OF a mile its cliff seemingly
ready to fall upon you. Icame TO a SPOT
where three trails branched away. IL
was luck aud chance. took one which
led me into long, dark ravine where
the summer sun has never touched the
icicles. After going a mile felt that
was wrong, and rivulet pouring over
the moss grown lodges, on the ruggtd
rocks, nor cooled the mountain was
about to turn back, when a voice sud-
denly called out through the semi-dark.
ness: ....
Stranger, you ar kivered! Throw up
your handsS'
If that command ever reaches your
ears, obey 1t at once and do your argu-
ing subsequently. IL means that your
head or heart is in point blank range of
bullet or buckshot, with finger resting
on the trigger and ready to pull if YOU
don't obey the summons.
Up went my hands.
After long half minute a noun
taneer, who had dead sight on me
with double barreled shotgun across a
point of rock twenty feet ahead, stepped
into view on the trail and said:
Stranger, slip DOWN.
l slipped off the saddle,
Now lead your mule up that ravine
to the rIghtr
SIMPLY saw man six feet high.
straight as an arrsw, long haired,
whiskers unkempt, dress, that of a
mountaineer. Yes, | saw more. He
held gun fair for my breast. One sus.
plclous move on my part and was a
dead man. He spoke in low voice. but
there was that in his tones which chilled
one. Without second look at him |
took the mule by the bits and led him
up the ravine. We had not gone twenty
rods before | scented a whiskey still. At
the END OF live RODS more we. were in a
rude camp. Two moonshiners sat on
log, guns across their knees, and back of
and below them still was running off
its extract of corn.
'One O. them spesI said the man who
had followed me as let go OF the mule
and sat down on stump.
"A good ketch! growled one of the sit.
ters.
Mighty kind in him to come yerer
chuckled the other.
They were moonshiners, and they took
me for spy sent out by the government
official of that district. looked from
one to the other. There was determ-
nation in each look-an implacable
,ternness of expression which would
have warned genuine spy that his hour
had come, Not one glance of pily-not
one line of mercy, A prisoner at the
stake among the Apaches woul1 have
had more hope.
These men were acknowledgements
laws--being hunted after every day IN
the year. Why? B, cause they were
making a liviDg-keeping soul and body
together-in the only way open to them.
The bits of valleys in the grim old Cum.
berlands will grow corn and potatoes.
tt potatoes are wanted for the table.
If there is more corn than the razor
backed hog or the shackling mule can
consume it IS a dead loss. Convey it to
market-two days 20 go and two to
come, and sell it for two bits bushel,
and the owner and seller would starye
on the way. Make it into a barrel or
two of whiskey and it will bring cash
on the spot, or very near it. 1t is not to
grow rich-not hoping to better his con
ditiOn-b1t simply to live. 1t is against
the laws of the land. The mountaineer
may go ragged and hungry, but he must
uOb ~ 10 blIG Olll law nc tdh \,
Aye! he even lives closer than most OF
US TO all the commandments. He breaks
it because grim necessity forces him to-
He is outiawed aud hunted that officials
may make fees.
= KNEW all this before l looked into
the stern, set faces around me, and
knew why | looked in vain for CLEAN
of mercy.
4 am no spy said, as l looked about
me. Il am traveller, making for Cum.
berland Gap, and I've lost my way
Go up that pathv commanded the
man who had captured me.
Not until | satisfy you that am not
a spy
'kivcr him, Joer whispered the man
to one of the Others, and a shotgun
covered my breast again.
The leader ran back down to the
ravine to be sure that no one had follow.
ed us. When he returned he said:
Say yer prayers, stranger! Joe, when
| riz my hand do you plug HIM!
Did any of you ever hear Of Joe Rick
abyY | asked, trying hard to keep a
steady voice.
Wall, what if we had?' asked the
leader.
About year ago l found him in jail
in B. He had been there Tor
several months. He was sick and out
of money, ana aided him. Here's his
name in my note book. See?
The man with the gun lowered his
weapon and came CT, ser and asked:
Was anybody else in the Jail with
Joe? .
'Yes-half a dozen-all moOnshiners,
| sent in 81 worth of pipes and tobacco,
and got one Of them some quinina.'
Hes the chap, sure's shooting : ex-
claimed the man as he turned 10 the
others.
On my soul he is! added the leader as
he came up and removed my hat.
'Durn my buttons! whispered the
third.
In a minute more it was all right, and
they we're shaking my hand 80 vigor-
nusly that my shoulder ached. The
humble cabin quarter Of mile away
was open for Inc forever more, aud it
was two days before they let go of me
to IT sumo my journey, The wife at the
cabin had more perception than the men.
She looked me over and then said:
! oh! sassafrax, but you fellers is all
blind. Hain't he Tank all over and all
Through Whar's the sunburn Whar's
H. l;nnoo Nbarfu tho hngs-nistnls ?