The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1893-03-09

having empIleu Cne elCIdlS aG Gne
time they were killed, and take the
hind quarters and skins to his home.
Such of the meat as he did not re-
onire for his own use, with the skins,
he would sell. At that time all
this country was in woods, save the
little peices of meadowland. There
was no portion or section of this
whole country with which he was
not we'll acquainted, and which he
could not travel over in the night
or day time. At night, if the
weather was clear, he could make
his way by the stars; if it was too
dark to see, then he built a fire
and slept until the morning. In
the daytime he knew the outlines
of the different mountains so well
that he never had any trouble in
making any point he desired. He
always went bareheaded. He loved
hunting and followed it as long as
he could swing rifle or drive his
knife into the heart of a bear"
| listened IN wrapt attention to
this little episode and even more,
but as time was now precious. know
ing that my arrival at the Narrows
was anticipated at this very mo-
ment. expressed my regret,
handed him my hand to say good
MI. but which he did not let go
until | had promised him that on
nv return | would call and take a
night. have ever since regretted
that circumstances prevented me
from fulfilling my promise, as |
am satisfied that would have been
Hospitality entertained and heard
more of one whose who life was
full of romance and strange adven-
ture.
1t was near noon when Mr.. II.
left the main road, and, after driv-
ing some 20Gyards through clusters
of hazelnut bushes and winding
around immense trees over a not
much-used and rather underlined
road. if, indeed, it could be termed
a road, that we reached Mr.. Brown
ing's encampment an Deep Greek
Narrows.
am free to admit that at first
sight / was little disappointed.
True, it was sufficiently wild, rough
and secluded a: to harmonic with
the taste of the most ardent devotee
of nature, yet apart from the con-
tinuous range of mountains, which
stood everywhere in the near dis
lance like huge battlements against
the skies, l had many times seen
similar small pieces of landscape
near and along the Potomac, in my
own country. Doubtless this dis
appointment was provoked from the
fact that just at that moment l
would have preferred seeing it a
little more civilized, for had been
riding nearly "a hours, day and
night. and did not feel as much re-
freshed from the journey as de-
sired.
This small ripple, however, did
not impede in the least my progress
or dampen my enthusiasm. was
here witha will and determination
to see, know and enjoy everything
in this primeval forest. Here in
this great institution, spread all
around by the Almighty, where |
could catch the forest songs and
sounds that would awaken old mem
cries and make me "a boy again" "
Here where | could be free for
awhile to play the untidy, and
roam when and where l might
please.
AS there appeared to be no one
about l concluded that while Mr..
Il. was engaged in caring for his
horses after their somewhat long
and heavy drive, l would make a
little examination of the surround
ings directly at headquarters.
On a little semi-circular eleva-
ton and just aboye beautiful crys-
tai spring that was gushing from
beneath the moss-covered roots OF
several aged oaks Mr.. Browning
had fixed his temporary habitation,
and, though exceedingly primitive
in it's architecture, its counterpart
can be found upon any well-regu-
lated farm. This ancient as well
as modern structure can be de-
scribed in a few words. 1t was
nothing more nor less than a shed,
with al open front. so arranged
as to catch the first rays
of the mornings sun as they came
over che mountains. The floor was
just as God made it, save that il
had thick carpet of wheat straw.
which was covered with blankets.
quilts and some deer skins
Against.the sides and on the inside'
were hanging coats and other pieces
of male attire, some tobacco and
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