Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-09-30
CHAPTER iI-continued.

Things has changed sum since
then. Nobody lives ter hum eny more.
It's sure hell In Green Briar these
days-somebody is gettin' kilt every
day cr two. The cusses travel In
gangs. murderin' an burnin' from one
eni O. the county to the other" He
stoke in an even. drawing voice, with
not the slightest show OF emotion, as
though telling an ordinary bit Of
news: DID Ii know which outfit
is the wus-the Yanks or the Rebs."
Which are you WITH"
Who, met" He paused in his bolt
ing OF food. and gave vent to an un-
pleasant laugh. Il rather reckon 1t
would puzzle the Lord Almighty ter
find that out. / don't give whoop
fer neither of 'em. I'm 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 'em
are Yanks. an q parcel OF 'em are
Rebs, but they don't git oil Jem ter
take nary side. At that, I'm gittin' all
the fghtin' banker arter. Naturally.
I'm peaceful critter, If tn cusses let
me alone"
"Quieted down some over there late
ly, hasn't it,"
Huh! Thar's a regiment o. blue
coats at Lewisburg, an a few cavalry
men ridln' 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 bs a
bit more keerful l reckon, young
man. yell find plenty o. deviltry going
on In Green Briar. il We ever git out
that away, Wal. thet's all thar Is fer
US ter eat. an I'm goin' ter take a
spooze."
He closed the door, fastening it So
curefy 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 pillow, l 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 tc
eat we were not long in preparing fol
departure. | endeavoring vainly to ge,
any silent companion to converse, be
ing rewarded merely by grumbled and
evasive answers. Finally I 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 9
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 gruffiy
Soldiers been marching over the pike
all day Mout be all right fer yer, Il
yer've got a pass-but amt got none
Well hev' good nough ridin' in bout
mile NOR"
You are aiming for the cutoff"
IL be--yer do kno' sumthin' of this
yere kintry. reckon. but yer've go
more eddication than eny Cowan
ever hooked up with afore. Yer dom
talk none like mountin' folks
return of suspicion.
That's true" I admitted readily
You see went to school at Coving
ton; they we're going to make &
preacher out of me-"
Taylor stared into my face. hi
vague suspicion seemingly gone.
Well, I'll be d--d--a preacher"
He rode on into the dusk, chuckling
and followed. smiling to myself, glat
that the mans good humor had beer
30 easily restored.
We were fed at hut back in ths
foothills. where an old couple, the mar
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 ives
of Waynesboro. in broken country. ant
all through those long night hour,
scarcely a word had been exchanges
between US. We camped finally in tn,
bend OF a small stream, where higl
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.
i reckon the critters don't neet
mcre'n couple hours rest" he said
They amt been rid noways hard, an
I'm fer gittin' through the gap durin
dayligllt--the road amt overly goo,
Just now."
Across the mountains? Is ti,er.
a gap hera?"
''Thar read ter Hot Springs is 'bau
teao n.le@ below yer. cum over 1