The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1896-03-06
CHAPTER vi.

Captain Sm1Jn ana L, Weli Lnstruooou
as to the streets through which we were
to get out of the town, passed the wicket
gate leading into the back lane and
strobe forth over the Crunching snow
1t was an intensely cold night, and not
a light or human being was visible on
the streets of Greenville. We walked at
vigorous pace, partly to keep warm
and partly to give rein to the energy
and excitement we felt.
Before daylight we were we'll IN the
! foothills of the mountains and had Sc
lected a nest on a southern slope, where
the leaves were dry, and camped for the
night. At 9 o'clock we set out again
under clear sky, but lost our way and
were finally brought to standstill by
the black, icy waters of wide creek,
which Smith, who was victim of rheu-
matism, could not cross.
Half mile back, and in what be-
lieved to be the right direction, we
could see the glowing windows OF a
house. l quickly decided that we should
make our way there, and in case the
family proved unfriendly was to re-
treat as best l could for the mountains
I helped Smith along until landed him
in the lee of the gatepost, when went
up Oh to the side porch and knocked ct
the door as bold as brass. 1t was opened
| by tall woman, who stood against the
glow of freight and answered my ques-
tions until was satisfied not only that
she was friendly, but that there were no
men in the house
The one room was surrounded as
usual with beds, and at the chimney end
grand wood fire was burning, splut-
tering pine knot giving cheerful light.
Smith and sat facing each other in the
corners of the chimney, basking in the
welcome warmth, while the woman bus
tied about to make US comfortable, tell
ing us meanwhile that her husband was
a Union man, but that he had been
pressed into the Confederate cavalry.
A low trundle bed stood on the hearth
before the fire, in which very old
woman was feebly moaning with rheu-
matism. The younger woman helped
her to get up and fixed her in chair
before the fire. After covering her with
| u
ans ear:
"Granny, them's Yankees. "
"Be they now?" she said, looking
from one to the other with her bleared
old eyes, "Be ye sellin tablecloths?'
1t having been explained to her that
we were prisoners from the war, she
wanted to know if we were Britishers.
The captain and l slept comfortably
in curtained bed and passed most of
the following day in the woods, coming
to the house in the evening for supper,
which was spread on a table on the
porch. We Jared beautifully, and our
haversacks were stuffed with "crack
Inns. -
The captain and had gone but a few
wards from the house when rheumatism,
the relentless, claimed him for its own.
It was now Tuesday, and he advised
me to go ON to his friends at Caesars
Head and wait for him there until the
following Monday. On the crest of the
mountain l was to find the cabin of one
of Smiths friends, lame man of the
name of Bishop.
/ travelled very rapidly all that night,
hoping to cover the whole i~,ance, but
day was breaking when l reached the
Saluda river. l worked up the stream,
through the woods, until found dam
ON which / made a crossing. By this
time the sun was rising and heard the
lowing of cattle and the voices of chill
dren and all the familiar sounds of early
morning echoing in the frosty air.
kept behind the fences as much as posi-
BILE until had crossed the open fields
and climbed to a secure hiding place on
the side of the mountain. A cliff, which
l recognized as Pompey's Pillar, reared
its mass across the valley, and as the
sun got higher glittering masses of ice
and snow tumbled over its crest, max
ing a thunderous reverberation in the
salley below.
As soon as it was sufficiently dark l
got around the little settlement and
ON to the main road leading up the noun
tain, which was quite feat of engineer
ing, zigzagging back and forth across the
steep ascent and turning ON log abut-
ments we'll anchored with stones. had
/ but six miles ~ climb before reaching