Year: 1879




black horse. The rest of us were
mounted and packed up much the
same way. Presently Coaly got up
well-feigned fright and shied to one
side. OFF tumbled Searle fiat on his
back, and down came gun, rations and
all in the road. Greer's animal fol-
lowed suit and took to the woods, but
no one else was thrown. Searle reached
around and felt the back of his head,
complained of conclusion of the brain
aud looked rather dazed. He is
school teacher and therefore did not
swear but grunted like lion. This
accident caused much delay and fun
but was the only serious one of the
trip.


We soon passed the last inhabited
cabin and saw no more people in
houses for over four days. Passing
around the point of high mountain
the old road winds down into deeply
wooded valley and along the bed of a
small creek nearly mile and then up
another. These streams run over and
between great powders, immense
stones, logs and brush block up the
way and high trees aud thick under
growth, principally of laurel, shut out
the view on both sides.


FLUSHING GAME AND SIGHTS.


Now and then a wild hog, turkey,
or a pheasant started in the brush,
but a few Intellectual shots at these
satisfied us that we were not after such
small game. Leaving the bed Of the


creek at length we began to go up a
sleeper grade. We came nearer Little


river again, but it is far below and its
distant roar over the rocks comes VI
; family like the buzzing of insect.
through the laurel and the hemlock
The mountains stand up on either
hand sleeper and grander in their un
, broken solitude. 1t is hardly credi
l Bile, yet our guide assures us tha


wagons have passed over this way anC


that it was originally intended as


turnpike to connect opposite countie
in Tennessee and North Carolina
! The grade is in some places at least
i rise of one foot in hight.


= The sun went down on us in tn
middle of the afternoon and shadow
like bridges of the genii began t
: stretch from mountain to mountain
The road continues to wind
UP, UP, UPl


" and the air grows thin and chilly. A
: points the river seems nearer and i;
u dull splashing sound comes up fu'
and strong like the roar of mid -ocea
: at night when all else is so STILL agai
= it dies away and is lost. This is not
Il time for much talking. The road q


places is scarcely foot wide. A sir


gle misstep and horse and rider woul
!, be plunged far below.


h A LOOK


5 down one of those dark blue chasm
= is enough to try every nerve and max
a the hearts full beat drive the persp
u ration to the brow At a turn in th


pathway there is full view of Thur
IS der Head, the highest point of til
i mountains in this part of the cour
J. try.


u THE COLD SPRING


is two miles from Spence's cabil
: Here we rested awhile and then mad
- the final struggle for the top. TIL


view on the left or south is gran
ls beyond description. We looked aero,
= :, dark rayines which point down to I'll
great spring that starts the river. n
:" human foot tever trod all theirshadOwe
p reeesses. Far above are seen ridg
after ridge running transversely int


the main mountain like ribs of SON


great system. Some of these are de-
"a titute of timber but covered with iy
n or laurel and look as smooth and gree
/ as if nodded by the hands of ga
IN dener, but for the most part there
'n very heavy timber nearly to the to-
IN Higher up still we pass through
le long


ne PORCHWAY OF LAUREL
y which shuts out all view. 1t lool
I'd as if nature might here be attemptir
RS with this luxuriant and tropical Ill
n growth to conceal the ruins of son
n ancient palace aud gardens, wheI
ly mountain kings could have locke
is down upon the eagles nest EmergiI
I'd from this natural canopy, and risiI
ms over the crest of the mountain, v
ed found that it was really sundow


We were over 63OO feet above Il


level Of the sea, and could look dow
st upon oceans Of mountains, mort
or south, east and west.


ck sPENCEs CABIN
:" was soon found A friend
ie, huntsman and trapper named Dav
n. Potter, vino walked twenty. eig
lie miles after sunrise that day. with hr