The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1916-01-07
CHAPTER discontinued.

Things has changed sum since
then. Nobody lives ter hum eny more
It's sure he'll in Green Briar these
days-somebody is gettin' kilt every
day er two. The cusses travel In
gangs. hIurderin' an burnin' from one
end O. the county to the other" He
spoke in an even, dJ.wling voice, with
not the slightest show of emotion, as
though telling an ordinary bit OF
news: I'D II know which outfit
is the wus-the Yanks or the Rebs."
Which are you within"
"Wbo, me?" He paused In his bolt
ing % food. and gave vent to an un.
pleasant laugh. 81 rather reckon II
would puzzle the Lord Almighty ter
find that out. / don't give whoop
fer neither of 'em. I'm fer OF Jem
Taylor. an it keeps me tolor'ble busy
tending ter his affairs, without both.
erin bout no goyernm ent."
Then your name is Taylor?"
II reckon it has been for bout sixty
years. Thar's a 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 Of Jem ter
take nary side. At that, I'm gittin' all
the fightin' / banker arter. Naturally,
I'm 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 rid1n' Their pixies. Don't amount
ter hill o. beann 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. / reckon, young
man, yell find plenty o. deviltry going
on in Green Brian, if we ever git out
that away. Wal, thet's all thar is fer
us ter eat. an I'm goin' ter take
snooze."
He closed the door, fastening it 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 pillow, l lay down
also. In short time his heavy
breathing was evidence enough that
Taylor slept. Slowly my heavy eyes
closed. and l 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
eYasive answers. Finally l desisted
II 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?" l
ssked as we climbed the opposite
bank.
The leader glanced back at me.
This yere way is higher an darn
tight NOR quiet" he answered gruff1y.
Soldiers been marching over the pike
Ill day. Mous be all right fer yer, If
yer've got pass-but l amt got pone
Well hev' good 'nough ridin' in bout
! mile NOR"
You are aiming for the cut-off?"
II be-yer do kno' sumthin' of this |
vere kintry, reckon, but yer've got |
oId
sver hooked up with afore. Yer don't |
,al6 none like mountin' folks"
/ drew a quick breath. sensing the |
'eturn of suspicion.
That's true" / admitted readily. |
You see l went to school at Coving.
on; they were going to make a
preacher out of me-"
Taylor stared into my face, his
'ague suspicion seemingly gone.
well, I'll be d-d-a preacher"
He rode on into the dusk, chuckling,
nd followed, smiling to myself, glad
hat the mans good humor had been
o easily restored.
We were fed ut hut back in the
oothiIls, where an old couple, the man
anne, were glad enough to exchange
heir poor food for the late news from
he army, in which they had a SON
hen we rode steadily to the south.
When dawn came we were to the west
( Waynesboro, IN broken country, and
II through thoue long night hours ,
carcely a word had been exchanged
etween us. We camped finally in the
end of small stream, where high ,
anks concealed US from observation. ,
here was little to eat in our haver-
acks, but we munched what we had,
nd Taylor, his eyes on the horses,
roke the silence. :
Il reckon the critters don't need :
ore'n a couple hours rest" he said. '
they amt been rid noways hard. an I
u fer gittin' through the gap durin :
road amt overly good ]
st now" I
ACROSS tie mountains? Ii there b
gap herei" r
"Thsr rod ter Hot Springs n bout II
10 milas below YER. ! cum over II !