Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1891-11-12

ATEsSS9A n
~
'wHo GOES THAR"
The mounted searchers went up the
road along which Bell and | had come,
and the sound of their excited voices
could be heard long after the tramping
of the horses hoofs died out. After 8
short consultation we decided to stick to
the road for the present. It certainly
led northward, and the walking along it
was preferable to blundering blindly
through the woods and across half cleared
fields. Travelling at night had the ad-
vantage of GOODNESS at least, and as long
as we could see the stars we had no doubt
as to direction
AT the first stream that crossed the
road. and there were many of them, we
took off our shoes and stockings and
bathed our feet, and as they were blister
ed and swollen SO that it was torture to
pull on our boots, we were loath to leave
the cool water, and finally we carried
our boots and kept on in our stockings,
test of endurance that did not last long,
for by daylight the feet were gone and
We threw the legs way.
We had been walking, with only few
brief halts, for about eight hours. and we
estimated that we had made at least
twenty miles when daybreak found US at
the fork of two roads. The one to the
right showed signs Of constant travel,
and that to the left was corduroy, and
appeared to lead into swamp extending
northward.
| In woodcraft | was quite willing to
yield MY Eilc SENS to Belts experience.
He had lived much among the North
Carolina Cherokees, and he knew all their
arts in following or avoiding trails, and
he had in addition the innate feeling
one could hardly call it knowledge-of
direction that is a peculiar attribute Of
the white natives of the Blue Ridge.
Waiting until the light was sufficient
to enable him to examine the corduroy
road with care, Bell looked at the trail.
-Four horses went in and four's come
out. They must be searchers," he said,
as he rose from his hands and knees,
"and If amt mistook there's more in
there now, leastwise not a critter back.
We uns can't make headway in the
woods count of our feet. The main road
would be blue ruin in no time, SO vote
TO- keepin on the corduroy, and a movin
with keer about the turns"
accepted this scheme without ques-
tion, and we resumed our march. Be
fore we had gone mile the road, bad
at the beginning, dissipated itself into
branches, all worse, and most of them
long ago unfit for the passage of wagons
DR. mounted men. We followed one road
to its termination in camp covered
with decayed cypress slabs and num-
Der of rotting log shanties that evidently
mad not been used ''sence befo' de wah."
Bell carefully looked over the ground
and decided that mo humans had been
In thar TO months N months" We sat
down and made hearty breakfast on
the corn bread and meat which Abe, the
Dverseer of the Branch place, had so
thoughtfully provided the night before.
There was plenty to satisfy our keen APP
petites and leave us enough for another
meal
/ We reasoned, and, as it proved, cor
rectly, that the swamp extended north
to the Savannah river, and, although it
promised hard travelling, the prospect of
It's being comparatively safe decided us
to try it. We still carried our boots
slung over our shoulders, and, cutting
two poles to help US along and enable us
to take soundings, we started off again.
Although we occasionally encountered
sharp roots, the soft earth and frequent
pools were grateful to our feet. and our
spirits rose accordingly.
The pools increased in number and the
ground became more spongy till noon.
when we reached hummock that rose
out of the swamp like an island, and ap-
| peared to be several acres in extent.
was about to suggest to Bell that we
take advantage of this place to finish
our rations and get some sleep, for we
had been marching continually for about
seventeen hours when we were brought
to sudden halt by the clicking of a
rife lock, and hoarse voice from the
front demanded:
"Who goes thar
FFriendsf" replied at venture.
"Whar is you fromT
Down the river"
Savannah"
sYes.r
"pesartinY'
mo, on furlough."
What in HI brings you a hidin in
har, them
Before l could frame an answer to this
Bell shouted out, although we could not
see the man who challenged us:
"What in hi brings you uns a hidin
in harp
I'VE amt hidin." and another rifle
barrel became visible beside the one al
ready covering us from the bushes.
"Wa'al.p continued Bell 'sYou uns
hez got the drop on we uns; so if you
uns be men and not doggoned skunlxs,
stop this foolin and show yerselves We
uns amt got no guns"
"An you don't peah to hev much OF
anythin else." This was said with a
laugh, the bushes were pushed aside, and
two men with long hair, shaggy boards
and ragged gray uniforms stood before
us. These were evidently some of the
men for whom the searchers were look
ing, and from their appearance it was
certain that the searchers could not
take them without fight. and not then
unless they had the means Of 'stoting''
them
I They approached US and shook hands
with that hearty camaraderie which !
imagine is peculiar to all men who have
set the laws at defiance and are rather