Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1912-09-12
THE MOUNTAIN FIeND.
Continued FromISecondIPage)


like. the woman replied, FER Sis a
pow 'ful hunter hisse'f'
who is Si?'' asked Reuben, "ef We
don't mind tellin' fellers that foller the
same trade be does"
Hes my old man." answered the
woman. Isl Hardin is his double name.
and he's bout the best hunter thar is
eny whars, low; and eff We don't b'Iieve
me jist step round to the chimly corner
en- look at his hides"
The men followed her to the chimney
where they saw skins of every size.
color and shape mounted on boards,
which were stuck in the cracks under
the protecting roof. 1t was indeed
nice collection of skins.
And where is 81 today" asked
Moore.
why, he went out this mornin' with
his gun an dogs. May be squirrel hunt
IN and may be watchin' his stin.''
His own still?' asked Moore.
Yes, Sis own still, responded the
woman. They wuz ole Teller STAYED
here last night at we didn't like the
looks NV, en- when he left 81 slipt arter
him, fearin' he wuz a raider"
what kind O. looking Teller wuz
hep asked Jim.
He wuz a poW'ful ugly Fer, with
long red whiskers en- zig PIP r-cs. lie
wuz bout the wust lc-ii IL fc = 7 ever
seed enywbar"
Sampson gave hiscorpa icas a wins.
for he real'z d t. ~ IA '-'-vc'l the Cop.
perhead's trail
(Which way did thefen Eo?" asked
Reuben
Right up the crick," said the v O.
man.
That Teller" said Sampson, sis one
NV our friends at promised to meet us
up here sOmewhars. We'se all sep rated
down on the river fer. hunt, and he
said we moight look fur him up on this
branch
1t was now about the middle of the
evening, and Reuben asked of the old
woman:
Lady, could we also get to stay all
night here?'
why, shore, stranger, " she replied,
''ef ye kin make out with our hard fare.
ye are welcum to stay
The old woman then busted herself
with the preparation of supper, while
our friends lounged outside the house.
Presently the head of the household
put in his appearance bringing with
him a heavy load of squirrels. He was
typical mountaineer, dressed not alto
gether unlike Ji " and Reuben. He was
strong and muscular and about sixty
years OF sge, or thereabouts. His long
hair and bushy beard, once let black,
was now iron gray. His eyes, black and
rowing, peeped from under a shaggy
pair of eyebrows. He had every ap-
pearance Of one accustomed to all the
hardsbips known to this class of hardy
men.
Il s'pose this is Mr.. Hardin" said
Jim, advancing toward the mountaineer
with outstretched hard
Yes. that's my name, " replied Har-
din, Isl is my givin' name
"Me an my friends. here, said jim,
have bin huntin', and have come a
pow full ways through the mountain ter
day, an bein tired an thirsty stopped
fer drink and to rest. Bein' told bv
yer wife ye wuz also hunter, We list
'cidcd ter spend the night with We, pro-
vided ye nidn' object"
Wake yerselves at home" said the
hunter, 'I'll warnt We is welcome
Hardin then turned his attention to
cleaning of squirrels and in a short time
had completed this task. Then turn
ing to his guests he said:
walk into TIL. house, gentlemen,
Sal'll have bite to cat arter a while. >"
The four men obeyed, and in very
short time after entering the house the
woman turned to her husband, saying:
Yer bite is ready, ST."
The old hunter moved his chair to the
table and invited the others to do like
wise. They Obeyed, and were socn par
taking heartily of the meal This fin
ished, the host and his guests gathered
around the great fireplace where the
next two or three hours were spent in
pleasant conversation about hunting and
the art of converting corn into "moon-
shine whiskey. the latter Hardin de-
claring he could do pow full WE'LL"
AS it was growing late, all now re-
tired for the night, Jim and Reuben to-
gether and Randolph and Moore occu-
pying another bed. They slept soundly |
until morning, then after eating anoth- |
er meal with the old mountaineer and |
learning the exact direction taken by
the Copperhead the day before, the