Year: 1862

country with view Of specializing in horses,
lands, or anything that nigh; give promise OF
profitable return for a cash investment. Oi
course carried good deal of money with NE,
but knowing l was going into wild, awless
class, Of every grade and color-among half
civilized Indians. negroes, gamblers thieves,
robbers, murderers and assassins-with per
haps few settlers of some claim to honor and
honesty, if they could be sified ont from the
mass-l thought it the safest plan not to seem
well off in the worlds goods. Accordingly
secured my money in belt around my body,
put on very coarse rough dress, which, by
international carelessness soon had q very mean,
slovenly appearance, and allowed my hair and
beaid to manage matters their own way. with
out any TROUBLESOME interference Of razor or
comb. Thus prepared and armed with two
revolvers and Bowie knife, passed over some
dangerous territory in comparative safety, and
fattered myself that no one guessed my riches
through my apparent poverty.


In fact, on two occasions, began 10 think
it might have been TO my advantage 10 have
looked little more respectable. The first Of
these was when travelling through the Choctaw
nation, found drove of horses that pleased
me very much. and was told by the owner. in
reply TO my question as TO what he would take
a head for the entire lot, that he was not in
the habit of naming his price to every wander
ing beggar that chose to satisfy bis curiosity
was disposed at first to put on some dignity
and get Indignant, but concluded after care
fnl survey of my person. that the man had
good cause for speaking as he did, and SO
merely assured him that knew an individual
who wished TO buy horses, if he could get them
at price The horse owner, however, WIS
not disposed to believe my statement, and So
passed him by, with resolve that, if nothing
better turned up, | would give him another
call under a more advantageous appearance
As the second instance alluded to was similar
to the first, it may be passed over without
further notice


But out Of this same cause grew a very re-
markable adventure, which it is nv present
purpose to relate.


While passing between two settlements, over
very lonely, gloomy horse-path, leading lhro
dark hemlock wood, and while in the most
solitary part, there suddenly came before me,
leaping over the thcket on the right, human
figure of most startling appearance. 1t was
a man of medium hight, but OF a stout, power
full frame, all covered with dirty ta.ters, that
be appeared to have worn and wallowed in for
years. lie had no covering for his head or
feet and his skin was so coated with CRIME
that it difficult to tell whether be belonged
to the white race or not. His face, high upon
his cheeks was covered with dirty brown
beard, and his matted hair hung in wild pro-
fusion all around his head, except little space
before his swollen bloodshot, eyes, and alto
geiher he looked like madman or human
human devil. His hands held aud swung
formidable club, and his attitude, as he leaped
irto the road before, was one of fierce menace
aud defiance.


stopped in alarm, and while fixing my eyes
sharply upon his, quietly sid my hand into a
convenient pocket and grasped the butt of one
of my revolvers. firmly determined TO keep him
at tie short distance that divided US, or kill
him if he advanced


For perhaps half minute we stood silently
regarding each other, and then, resting ore
end OF bis club on the ground, and partly lean
ing forward on the other, he said, in coarse
gruff toae, with a kind of chuckiing laugh;


"Well. - me- Is in hopes I'd prize at
last but if you're much better off than me you
don't show it, by =! Stranger, who ar you?
and whar you from?


We'll, returned l, feeling highly compl-
mented, of course, that resembled such vii
lainous looking object as himself 'some people
call me beggar, and l know don't pass for a
genteel gentleman"


I'll sw ar to that-haw haw haw :" was
the chuckling response. The world han't
made much of you, morn it has of NE. see
steal in your face as plain as daylight. Say
what jail or penitentiary lost you last?"


Never mind that :" said !, probably
neither of Us have got our deserts


Well. if you'd been decent dressed, looked
Ike you had five dollars about you, Id have
knocked your brains out. - pursued the villain
with a broad grin. =" As it is, YOU can pass
for can sw ar you han't got red ~


Much obliged for your candor anyhow :"
rejoined I.


He stood before me looking straight into
my eye, and now seemed to be pondering some
new idea. Presently be muttered, as if 10
himself:


i think be might do" Then, a moment
after, be said to me, " say old fellow, how d
you like to make raise o.


How would like to eat when hungry ?"
I answered, thinking it not unlikely that the