Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1915-12-09
CHAPTER II-contInued.

vikings 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 er two. The cusses travel In
gangs, murderin an burnin' from one
end 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 II know which outfit
is the wus--the. Yanks or the Rebs."
(Which are you with?"
who, me?" He paused In his bolt
ing of food, and gave vent to an I'M
pleasant laugh. II 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 II keeps me tolor'ble busy
tending ter his affairs, without both
erin bout no government"
"Then your name is Taylorf"
II reckon II has been for bout sixty
years. Thar's slew o. Taylors over
along Buffalo crick, an SOM Of 'em
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.
~, hasn't tit"
Hull Thar's regiment o. blue
coats at Lewisburg, an few cavalry
men ridin' Their pixies. Don't amount
ter a hill o. beans as fer as Their boys
are concerned. All they got ter do is
60 further back in the hills, an be a
bit more keerful. 1 reckon, young
man, yen find plenty o. deviltry going
on In Green Briar, II We ever git out
that away. Wal, thets all thar is fer
us ter eat. an I'm goin' ter take a
sDooze."
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, / endeavoring vainly to get
my silent companion to converse, be-
ing rewarded merely by grumbled and
Isvasive answers. Finally 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 a
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 we're way Ia higher, an darn
sight NOR quiet" he answered grufiy.
SOLDIERS been marching over the pike
al day. Mout be all right fer yer, II
yer've got pass-but amt got none.
Well hev' good 'nough ridin' in bout
q mile NOR"
you are aiming for the cut-off?"
II be-yer do kno' sumthin' of this
yere kintry. reckon. but yer've got
more dedication than eny Cowan ]
ever hooked up with afore. Yer don't
talk none like mountin' folks"
drew quick breath. sensing the
return of suspicion.
That's true" l admitted readily.
you see I went to school at Coving.
ON: they were going to make a
preacher out Of me-"
Taylor stared into my face, his
vague suspicion seemingly gone.
well. Ill 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
gcarcely a word had been EXCHANGED