Year: 1877

lican s idea was tnaJ tney nau u Dig cave
somewhere under ground; for If their
rendezvous had been above ground the
officers would have found 1t before this.


On the following morning we ate
breakfast at an early hour, and shortly
afterwards the Sheriff and his deputies
started off to the southwark, towards
bend in the river, where the crew of
flatboat had been robbed only few
days before. My course lay to the east
ward, as 1 had business at Cahawba.


" You'd q made 1t BETTER" said my
host, 4" if you'd crossed the river at
Blufpost. In that case you'd "a had a
direct road to Cahawba but now you've
got to take nearly half the distance in
wildcat road and mule-path. Howsom-
ever, If you've got good boss, you'll
make out, reckon-that is,if you don't
get picked up by the pirates"


had been aware of the character of
the road that lay before me, and had
rather preferred 1t to the better route to
the northward. had plenty of time,
and l liked to see these out-of-the-way
plantations, and as far as for hospitality,
1t was all alike. / was at home any
where. With one or two exceptions it
seemed to be the chief aim of the plan
ters to make my stay with them as
agreeable as possible; and found more
difficulty in getting away from their
doors than did in gaining entrance.


1 set out from the settlement at eight
or six miles met man who informed
me that the water was too high for O
comfortable fording of Linden Creek,
and that would find 1t pleasant to turn
to the southwark, and go below the Big
Brake; referring to cane brake not far
distant that covered several hundred
acres of the rich bottom land. This was
route but little travelled, but L minded
not that so long as there was a plain
path; SO logged along upon this new
way, which found to be dreary and
lonesome enough. had no fear of rob-
bers, but still the character of the road
was calculated to excite ones caution,
and / instinctively drew out my revol-
yer and examined the charges, and the
caps and when had done this slip
ped into the side-pocket of my sack,
where 1 could reach ii most handily.-
After this L whistled, and then 1 sang a
few verses of an old song, for the pur-
pose, I suppose, of convincing the birds
that was cheerful and easy.


BY and by reached point where
the path crossed a little stream, and here
1 was Joined by horseman who had
come out from the timber to the east
ward. AS his beast had been drinking,
1 did not notice him until i was close
upon him. He was q middle-aged man, i,
of medium size, dressed in common
hunting garb, and carrying a rifle be-
fore him upon his saddle-bow. If this
man was really hunter, thought he
was entirely different from other hunters
1 had met in that country. His clothes
were vastly better, and he lacked the
free and easy offhand way of your gen.
uine forester. He hailed me as though
he was surprised to see me there, and /
could not divest myself of the impress
sion that he regarded me as an inter-
loper. He looked at me sharply, and as
he drew up near to my side he asked


Do you belong in these parts ?''


1t struck me then that he might be an
officer looking after the river pirates. 1
told him that was a stranger in that
section, travelling partly for my health
and partly on business furthermore
told him that / was on my way to
Cahawba.


He looked at me again, taking care
full survey of my whole figure, and then
remarked, as we started away from the
brake:


81 s'pose the Creek is full ?"


Yes," said I.


" And so you have to come this
way ?"


said "yeso again


" That's partly the case with me-" he
said, though amt going exactly
your way for any great distance. Rather
a lonesome road, isn't itY"


" 1t is, certainly"


Not very pleasant place to meet
robbers, " he suggested.


/ admitted he was correct.


" Have you heard anything about
those chaps ?" .s


6 You mean the robbers 2"


Yes."


Inow felt sure that my companion