The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-08-28
BEATING THE.REYENUE

WHICH lue llOuntalneefS were bringing up
On the day previous several men on horseback
had passed me, and L remembered that the
family at the cabin where I passed the
night seemed to be restless and uneasy. The
revenue men had got track of the still and
had pressed the mountaineers so closely that
they had hidden it among the rocks and
bushes at the waysde That outfit repro
scented the combined capital of half a dozen
mountaineers. If they lost it they would lose
their all. If Uncle Sam failed to lay hands on
it he would be no worse Off. l looked the out
lit over making note of everything, ate my
dinner, and had only got back to the trail
again when four horsefnen rode up. | sized
them up for revenue men at once, and it was
plain enough they were i'll iil-humor- l don't
know that would have given them any in
formation had they been pleasant, but the way
they jumped on me for a send-off boiled me
over.
'See here" said the leader, as he glared
down at me, you're the fellow we saw yester-
day back here in the elbow!''
"Well, what of it?"
"a good deal of it. We are government
officials"
eyes; I've seen em before. In fact, used
to own one"
"Look out, sir! 1 can make it very serious
for you You must know that still has been
brought in this direction. The chances are
that you have met the men with it,"
"Well?"
"Well, we are here to find it,"
Gam hindering you?''
Il believe you know all about it, and
should be justified in arrestng you"
VERY well; I'll consider myself your pris-
oner."
They drew apart and conferred together for
a few minetes, and then the leader said:
Perhaps was little too rash, and L hope
you'll excuse me. If you would give US a
pointer ii would be great favor.
"What information do you want?"
So About that still. We know that il naSSed
Lapham's, three miles back. We know that
it has not passed Harrison's 5. two miles ahead.
It's likely you saw the men,"
about two hours ago?"
Had it packed on two mules?"
"That'sit."
"Four men on two mules?'
eyes"
"They must have left the main trail, or you
would have seen them"
eyes"
Back here about twenty rods there's ra-
vine to the right"
THAT'S SOL remember"
"If had been one of the men should have
lodged in there with the party"
Certain! A thousand thanks to you'll
They were9,N on the galleY. and The sound
q Sirsir horessS feet had not yet died away
when two men dropped out of the rocks ana
bushes TO my left. They were mountainous
and moonshners. Both held out their hands
as jumped up in alarm, and one of them
said:
STRANGER that's the whitest thing ever
knew man to do, ana we ar crowd which
won't forgit itl'
He uttered shrii whistle, and two other
men, each leading a mule, broke cover from
thicket That outfit was picked up and packed
and strapped in five minutes, and / was IN
vited to go along with the party. We kept
the main trail about half mile and then
turned ito a ravine road to the right One
man was sent on ahead as scout, and as we
oil, i L.
was from and what my errand was, and be-
fore had fully explained the leader, whose
name was Dawson, said:
Say, he's the very Teller we got word about
Put it thar. young feller; an right glad we ar
to see youl"
We had progressed about mile when the
scout came back with word that the revenue
gang had taken a half circle and were coming
back to the main road Icy this very path. Just
here small ravine ran to our right deep and
moment, and seemed about to abandon the
mules and take flight down the gully, when
said
:. Can't you al push down in there and leave
it to me again ~
"Would you do it, Stranger"
''Of course L will"
saw them hidden and then sauntered on
for about two hundred feet and sat down on a
rock. In five minutes the revenue men came
up l asked what luck, and they replied that
they had missed the party altogether
After you went away" L said after Bit,
81 saw two men and two mules in the brush
on the left of the road"
"You did2"
eyes. You were gone then, and of course I
did not care to investigate alone"
Those are the men we want" shouted the
four in chorus, and away they went with
great chatter. Five minutes later the moon
shine party were out of the ravine and Dawson
came up to me, grasped my hand and said
Men, take good look at him! You'll all
fetch (agree) with me that il airy man in these
yere hills ever considers 10 chitter him (stops
10 question ms rght) that ere man has got to
die!"
After proceeding about mile and half we
reached the spot where the mill was to be To-
Gated, and half mile away was Dawson's
cabin. His family consisted OF wife and three
children, the oldest being barefooted, bare
legged girl OF sixteen. After being introduced
was left to pass couple Of hours while Daw-
son returned to the men. He had explained TO
his wife who was and what had happened,
but the children were full Of curiosity. AS
sat by the door smoking the girl, who was
called Deb, sat down beside me and asked
stranger did ye lope ito" come on FOOT.
eyes"
"a mile or a sot-down?"
'More'n that, About dozen fop-ups"
A "sot-doWn" means a half days travel. A
"hop-up" means days tramp. At bedtime
the head OF the house would say to the chill
dren:
The girl looked at me in great surprise, and
presently asked:
"You didn't come to shoot pop, cause il ye
had you'd hey chucked (ambushed) him."
"No; came TO see you"
"Mam oh, mani" she called, "come out
yere Jist hear he'un talkin'."
"What does he'un say?" asked the mother as
she came out with her pipe and sat down.
"He's honey! / dun told va when that
wishbone fell down that he'un was comm.
Uipl Hain't he 'un nice, map"
"He's honey, fur Shore" said tho mother
after glancing at me. "But he'un must AK
pep fur yer. Can't 90 onless pop says 50. Say.
stranger, did ye come 30 take Deb away2
Did somebody tell ye we wanted her 10 git
mar'd2"
NO. ! fell In with your husband and his
friends on the road and he asked Inc to stop
over night"
Hip! And you'un don't want to marry
meu' shouted Deb.
al can't, my child"
"Mcbbe you'un Is forwardy (already)