Year: 1877

Business found me on the Texan border


one stormy evening, endeavoring to picl


my way out of dense forest through


which I was obliged to pass to reach my


destination. The purpose of my journey


to the frontier was to convey to my en-


ployer's agent in Fremont new settlement


a large sum Of money, which was con.


cealed in belt about my person. An un-


foreseen exigency necessitated this mode of


conveyance.


The Mexican war had just ended and in


the unsettled condition of the country, par


ticuiarly the frontier, outlawry of every kind
was rampant. Organized bands of robbers


horse-thieves, and murderers infested the


border; and woe to the luckless traveller who
fell into their hands.


bad been forwarned of the perils likely


to be encountered in my transit to the re-
mote settlement, and as precaution ar
rayed myself in a well-worn suit of clothing
which gave me quite Belisarian appear
ance. My horses exterior was fully in
harmony with that of his rider-a sorrier
looking nag Inever beheld, nor one whose
outward aspect SO belied bis real capacity
forspeed and endurance. Under these cir
cumstances 1t was unlikely that I should
suffer annoyance at the hands Of the above
named gentry.


Before entering the forest, was met by
man who, in answer to my inquiries, in
formed me that the path was then pursu-
ing would, by half on hours hard riding,
bring me to the settlement I was seeking.
AS l continued my way the man called
after, bidding me be sure and take the
left hand turning when came to where the
road forked; adding that the right branch
terminated in a swamp, which I should, Of
course, avoid.


l did not much fancy my informant's ap-
pearance. He was large muscular fellow,
habited in the garb of a backwoodsman,
and with q belt around tile waist in which !
was stuck, with customary frontier osten-
tation, pair of heavy pistols and huge
bowie-knife.


Thus far he was in no wise different from
the class of men had daily met during my
journey. His countenance, however, was
remarkable. The features were good, but
the black and bushy eyebrows formed
continuous line from brow to brow, impart-
ing a peculiar and sinister expression. I
was at 8rst impressed with the belief that
I had seen this parsonage under recent
but I in vain endeavored to
recall the time and place, and at length
the idea, as it seemed moro
than probable that l. had been deceived by
q fancied resemblance to another.
Three miles on I found, as my informant
stated, the road branched at either hand
Though I observed that going to the right
was by far the most trodden and inviting OF
the two, yet as the man could certainly
have had no motive in deceiving me, I did
not hesitate to follow his directions. t
I must have ridden at least five miles,
md, according to all calculations, should
ong since have cleared the forest, ere it
occurred to me, by the gradual narrowing '
If the path and the increasing density Of
he woods, that I had, either through
stupidity or design, been misdirected. Tho
,efection was anything but a pleasant one Il
was uncomfortably wet, chilled to the :
zone, and moreover, nearly famished, for J d
nad eaten nothing since an early hour in e
he forenoon, and what sustenance I then Il