Year: 1865

SNCiy NAOAC' W III one OF TWO exceptions
itseemed to be the chief aim of the planters
to make my stay with them as agreeable
as possible; and I found more difficulty
In getting away from their doors than
did in gaining entrance.


1 set out from the settlement at eight
o'clock, and at the distance of some five ol
SIX miles 1 met man who informed ma
that the water was too high for comfor.
table fording of Linden Creek, and that
l would find it pleasanter to turn to the
southwark, and 60 below the Big Brake
referring to a cane brake not far distant
which covered several hundred acres Of
the rich bottom land. This was a route
but little travelled but I minded moi
that so long as there was a plain path SC
l logged along upon this new way, which
| found to be dreary and lonesome enough
l had no fear of robbers, but still the char,
acter of the road was calculated to excite
ones caution, and l instinctively drew out
my reyoler and examined the charges, and
the caps; and when I had done this
slipped it into the side~pOcket of my sack,
where l could reach it most haudilv. At
ter this l whistled, and then I sang a few
verses Of an old song, for the purpose,
suppose, Of convincing the birds that
was very cheerful and easy.


By and by reached a point where the
path crossed a little stream, and here
was joined by hOrseman who had come
out from the timber to the eastward. As
his beast had been drinking, I did not no
tice him until I was close upon him. He
was a middle-aged man; of medium size
dressed in a common hunting garb, and
carrying rifle before him upon his saddle
bow. If this man was really a hunter,
thought, he was entirely different from
other hunters I had met in that country.
His clothes were vastly better; and he
lacked the free and easy, off hand way of
your genuine forester. He hailed me as
though he was surprised to see me there,
and l could not diyest myself Of the i'm
preston that he regarded me as an inter-
lOper. He looked at me sharply, and as
he drew up near my side he asked:


'Do you belong in these parts?'


It struck me then that he might be an
officer looking after the river pirates. I
told him that I was a stranger in that sec-
ton, travelling partly for my. health, and
partly on business; and I furthermore
told him that [ was on my way to Cahawba.


He looked at me again, taking a careful
survey of my whole figure, and then re-
marked, as we started away from the
brook:


Il s'pose the Crick is full?'


'Yes,' said I.


'And SO you have come this way p


I said Yes again.


That's partly the case with me, he said,
though [ amt going exactly your way
for any great distance. Rather lonesome
road, isn't it I?


1T is, certainly


Not very pleasant place to meet
robbers, he suggested.


I admitted that he was correct.


'Have you heard anything about those
chaps p


you mean the robbers?'


yes


I now felt sure that my companion
was detective, and 1 told him what I
had seen and heard at the inn where I
had last stopped. He was deeply inter
ested-very deeply interested; and 1 ven
tured to suggest that he might be search
ing after those very Williams


'Do you really think SOP he asked.


I told him that I thought so from the
first.


'Zounds!' he muttered, with a smile,
4 must be more careful, or I shall expose
myself too much


Then he acknowledged that he was an
officer, and as we rode on I told him all I
had heard concerning the outlaws.


In the course of half an hour we left
the timber, and soon afterwards we came
in sight Of the canebrake. It was a curl
GUS sight, that maze Of canes stretching
away almost as far as the eye could reach;
as l came nearer [ wondered not that even
hunters sometimes lost their
way and starved to death in the traekless
depths of such labyrinth. For the dis
tance of some two miles we rode along the
edge of the brake, and then we were forced
to bear to the right on account Of the
sOftness Of the soil, and pretty soon we
came to where a body Of water lay
between US and the canes. This water
seemed to be a sort of bayou, fed by streams
beyond my sight, and it certainly had
dismallook, suggestive Of snakes
and alligators. We had passed point of
wood that made close down to the water,
when fancied that l heard the sound Of
horses feet behind me, and upon turning
[ beheld four horsemen just emerging
from the wood, My companion certainly
to make some sign to them,
but they did not see him, They kept on
straight to the edge of the bayou; went
into the water as though it we're a cOntin-
1aton of the road, the horses moving
with perfect assurance, and seeming used
to the route, and for the distance Of at
least twenty rods they went safely on, the
water in no place above their knees, and
inally disappeared within the depths of
.he canebrake.


I looked at my companion, and he look
cd at me.


That's rather curious, isn't it2' he
said And he looked into my face very
sharply.


Curious enough, I replied.


what dye spOse it means?' he quer-
lied.


1t had naturally occurred to me that
within the cane-brake might be the hid
lon retreat Of the robbers, and that the
place of passage across the bayou was
know only to themselves; but l did not
speak my mind to my companion. I in
-imated to him that had no idea of its



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