The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1915-10-29
CHAPTER il-continued.

Things has changed sum since
then. Nobody lives ter hum eny more.
ifs sure hell In Green Briar these
days-somebody is gettin' kilt every
day er two. The cusses travel In
gangs, murderin' an burnin' from one
enc O. the county to the other" He
spoke In an even, drawing voice, with
not the slightest show of emotion, as
though telling an ordinary bit of
news: ID IL know which outfit
Is the wus-the Yanks or the Rebs."
Which are you WITH"
Who, mel" He paused in his bolt
Ing OF food, and gave vent to an un-
pleasant laugh. II rather reckon 1t
would puzzle the Lord Almighty ter
md that out. I don't give whoop
fer neither of 'em. Pm fer oil Jem
Taylor. an it keeps me tolor'ble busy
tending ter his affairs, without both.
erin bout no government"
Then your name is Taylor?"
Il reckon it has been for bout sixty
years. Thar's slew o. Taylors over
along Buffalo crick, an SOM of EN-
are Yanks, an a parcel Of 'em are
Rebs, but they don't git oil Jem ter
take nary side. At that, I'm gittin' all
the fightin' banker arter. Naturally,
I'm a peaceful critter. If tn cusses let
me alone"
"Quieted down some over there late.
Iy, hasn't it?"
Huh! Thar's regiment o. blue
coats at Lewisburg, an few cavalry
men ridin' Their pixies. Don't amount
ter hill O. beans as fer as Their boys
are concerned. All they got ter do is
go further back in the hills, an be a
bit more keerful. l reckon, young
man. yen find plenty o. deyiltry going
on In Green Briar If We ever git out
that away. Wal, thet's all thar is fer
US ter eat, an Pm goin' ter take
snooze"
He closed the door, fastening 1t Sc
curely with wooden bar, and
stretched himself out on the floor.
The room was dark, as the only win
dow was tightly boarded up, and using
my bundle for a pillow, lay down
also. In short time his heavy
breathing was evidence enough that
Taylor slept. Slowly my heavy eyes
closed, and lost consciousness.
The sun was below the mountain
ridge, when the heavy hand OF the old
mountaineer shook me into sudden
wakefulness. With nothing left to
eat we were not long In preparing for
departure. 1 endeavoring vainly to get
nnu rata 10 h1
ing rewarded merely by grumbled and
evasive answers. Finally l desisted
in the attempt, content to follow his
lead. Taylor, astride his sorrel, with
gun resting grimly across his knees,
rode straight through the brush, away
from the pike, down the valley of q
small stream. In crossing. the horses
drank their fill.
How about the valley road?"
asked as We climbed the opposite
bank.
The leader glanced back at me.
This yere way is higher, an darn
sight NOR quiet" he answered grufiy.
Soldiers been marching over the pike
all day. Mout be all right fer yer, II
yer've got pass-but amt got none
Well hev' good nough ridin' in bout
mile NOR"
you are aiming for the cutoff"
81 be-yer do kno' sumthin' of this
we're kintry, l reckon, but yer've got
more eddication than eny Cowan !!
ever hooked up with afore. Yer don't
talk none like mountin' folks"
l drew a quick breath, sensing the
return of suspicion.
That's true" / admitted readily.
You see went to school at Coving
ton; they were going to make a
preacher out of me-"
Taylor stared into my face, his
vague suspicion seemingly gone.
sWell, I'll be d-d-a preacher"
He rode on into the dusk, chuckling
and l followed, smiling to myself. glad
that the mans good humor had been
so easily restored.
We were fed at hut back in the
foothills, where an old couple, the man
lame, were glad enough to exchange
their poor food for the late news from
the army, in which they had son
Then we rode steadily to the south.
When dawn came we were to the west
of Waynesboro. in broken country, and
all through those long night hours
scarcely a word had been exchanged
between us. We camped finally in the
bend of small stream, where high
banks concealed us from observation.
There was little to eat in our haver-
sacks, but we munched what we had.
and Taylor. his eyes on the horses,
broke the silence.
81 reckon the critters don't need
more'n a couple hours rest" he said.
"They amt been rid noways hard. an
I'm fer gittin' through the gap durin'
,daylight-~the road amt overly good
just now"
ACROSS the mountains? Is there
gap heref"
"Ther road ter Hot Springs Is bout
two miles below yer, ! cum over 1t