The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1894-03-16
A MOUNTAIN RIDE.
Peculiar Traits of the Moonshiners Of
Georgia and Tennessee.

tainecr. | wrote to him, but he would
not come Finally he sent word that
| might come up and see him. lie
specified particularly the day | was to
arrive and the exact time / was to
begin the ascent of the mountains On
the afternoon named my horse was
tugglng bravely up the rough road
along the mountain side when boy
not over seventeen years old slouched
down into the road. A rifle was slung
over his shoulder in such way that
1t could be swung into instant use. lie
made no attempt to get out OF my
way and | was obliged to pull up my
horse.
care you Judge Mp he drawled
"I'm the man. / said.
"'All right, Ill go along with YOU
he replied.
"Thank YOU answered, but who
are youY
"'I'm Bill Johnson's boy
"'Did he send you down to meet meT
"'Yes.'
"'WhyT
$50 you'd get there alive he said
sententiously. You're stranger
"'Won't you get inF asked.
ono he said dryly, III walk. It's
safer for you.
"A mile or so further on another an
about twenty-one dropped suddenly in
to the road He, too, had u rifle sluug
on his shoulder.
Hello, Jim,' he said, IS this the
JudgeT
Yes said Jim.
"All right said the other, and he
swung along on the other side of my
wagon.
"'Who is thatT 1 asked Jim when 1
got chance.
"'My brother said jim; you're
stranger you know; he's come to help
take care of you.
"Soon another young man appeared
in the same mysterious way and joined
my bodyguard. He was another Of
Bill Johnson's boys.
AT later turn in the road an old
man, stoOp shouldered, gray haired,
wrlnkled and bent. but keen eyed and
alert, stepped silently before us. He,
like the rest, was armed.
lis this the JudgeT he asked his
boys.
ut was the Judge, and he climbed
into my wagon. Protected in this way,
drove to his home. My business fin
ished. | drove back in the same way,
my guard melting away, until L finally
said good-by to the youngest boy.
Strangers in the moonshine regions of
| Tennessee go that way, or they go in
a coffin"
strangely enough" said the railroad
man, 81, too, have story to tell about
mOonshiners and strangers. | was
building railroad down in Georgia in
my younger days. l am Georgian,
you know. Once following our sur
veys | saw a chance to ride across the
mountains, and thence to my home to
visit my father 1t was early in the
afternoon when l started on my long
ride. The moon was shining high. in
the heavens when l began to climb. 1
was jogging peacefully up the incline,
when from a shadow horse and rider
came out from the side of the road and
fell in at my side.
Good-evening, stranger said the
man politely.
Good-evening, SIR l said, glad of
even unknown company.
Which way you goingY asked my
new companion.
"'Over the mountains answered.
Reckon I'm going that way, too
he said, and then had an opportunity
to look at my friends face. 1t was
strange face. Smooth shaven, young
and yet old. 1t was calm and placid,
as eXpressionleSs as stone, and yet
there was Il certain set about the Jaws
that kept me uneasy. And no matter
how often | looked at him, how quick
ly l turned my glance on his face, his
deepest eyes were always watching me.
felt, even when / did not look at him,
that he was watching me like a cat.
We rode for hours. talking as one does
with that class of people, until at near
ly daylight we had crossed the noun
tains and We're making our way along
comparatively level road. When we
came to a river, which we had to ford,
my friend reined up.
"'This Is as far as-I CO. he said.
I'm sorry to lose you,' l replied
civilly.
Stranger he said, when my horses
you fromY
"'Georgia,' 1 answered; this is my
State
"'Who's boy are your
"Judge SIS
els that so?' he said in a calm voice.
why, do you know what 1 took you
for? Revenue! Yes, sir, and / came
near shooting you, sir. Half a dozen
times on that ride l made up my mind
you We're revenue, sir, and each time
l was just ready to do it. But hated
to do it, sir, you looked so square. Pm
glad | didn't
" so am /, l answered, with a false,
jerlly laugh, for that emotionless man
gave me the chills, and l sent my horse
across the ford.
Good-by,' l cried from the other
side
Good-by, SIR he replied. Then his
horse carried him off in the gray light,
and | felt a sudden sense of relief
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