The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1895-02-07
"Ecll at mn feet-dedd."

ous incident Of that gloomy night to me
was how our guide found this cabin in
the intense darkness, for he spoke about
it not as place come on by chance, but
one with which he was we'll acquainted.
I'VE were led into the cabin, and
supposed everything was SO wet that it
would be folly to think Of a fire and i'm
possible to start one, but in this was
mistaken. While mother and sat on
the saddles that had been carried in to
furnish us with seats, Dick Bradley pro-
duced his flint and steel-every noun
taineer carries these primitive appli-
ances-and tearing off some dry splints
and bark from the inner side of the logs
he soon had blaze, and following that
q fire. Except the four log walls and the
roof. which must have been the Lstter
part. for it kept the clay floor dry, there
was absolutely nothing to this cabin.
The pilo of ashes ON the big hearth
showed that the place had once been in
habited: but, miserable though I was, I
did not wonder that the builders had
abandoned such wretched place."
Dick Bradley threw circle Of pick
was entirely ignorant Of military meth
DDS he arranged to visit them every
hour, gave them countersign and de-
tailed relief. While this was being
done the men not on picket carried in
logs to be used as fuel or for seats and
then sat down, and soon the cabin was
filled with steam and the odor Of toast
ing flannels. AS soon as the, saddle
blankets were sufficiently dry bed was
made for Mrs. Peters and her daughter.
They showed their appreciation of this
thoughtfulness by removing their shoes
and lying down, with their saddles fol-
pillows.
But" continued Miss Peters, "al.
though thoroughly wearied, sleep was
out of the question. The whistling Of
the wind through the surrounding trees,
the ceaseless beating of the rain on the
clapboards and the hoarse whispering
of the men crouching beside the fire
kept mother and myself awake, as the
roar of battle might not have done.
"When my fathers watch told that
daylight was due, the men about the
fire began to eat of the corn bread ant
cooked pork they had brought witt
them, and Dick Bradley and father
went out to visit the pickets. With thu
dawn Of day the rain ceased and TIN
wind died out. Mother and left th'
cabin to look about us. We saw tn,
horses standing with lowered heads ant
dropping hips at the chimney end O
the cabin We were in the midst of
forest. seemingly on top of a considera
hle hill. Down through the trees and il
direction wa took to be the north W
fresh wound.
"While we stood looking about u
we saw father and Bradley coming hur
riedly back and evidently much excit
ed. Father did not appear to be weary
but there was an anxious, panied loo
in his eyes, such as we had not notice,
there since the day the meeting hous
was burned, though there was never a
hour since then when there was not a
occasion for worry"
The pickets had reported suspicion
men seen in the distance since daylight
These men were gathering along tn
line of the trail over which the fugitive
must pass ON their way to the north
They were in considerable force, an
that they were not friends was manifes
from their actions,
The cabin might afford somo shelte
from a storm. bur it was worse tina
useless as a place of defense. On spu
of the hill to the north and about
quarter of mile from the cabin Brat
ley had either discovered that mornin
or knew in advance of place that O
fered advantages for defense. Withor
any excitement he told the men in an
about the cabin that there were strai
gers in sight, and that fight might
looked for before they could resun
their journey.
The men seized their rifles, the hors,
were resaddled, and as Mrs. Peters ar
her daughter preferred to walk the a