Year: 1875

IHE INN AL The GAP.


l was just starting out in the world,
and was twenty-five years old. 1 had
graduated the previous year, and had
just been trying to get an appointment
rs all army surgeon; but, failing in this,
went westward, to find place in which
to commence and make my reputation.
Savannah was my native place, and from
there started to find my way into Ken.
lucky. I should have gone out earlier in
the season, but I did not get off on my
expedition until tho last of November.
In those days there were not even regu-
lar lines of stages over many travelled
routes; but parties would join together
and get somebody who had q covered
wagon to carry them through from point
to point, and divide the expense. 1t
was so on the especial time that I pass
cd through the Gap.


There were six Of us altogether; but
the only one with whom made any ac-
quaintance was soldier on furlough,
going into Kentucky on visit to his
relatives. He was a fine-looking, bluff
fellow, with an off-hand way of telling
his camp-life experiences that pleased
me very much, and made me regret ex-
ceedingly my want of success in getting
my applied-for surgeonship. had not
gone very far with Sergeant Beach be-
much, and agreed to go with him to his
hood for q settlement. He, on the
other side, seemed disposed to extend a
sort of protection over me, for in those
days was rather puny specimen, and
looked as though I might need some
thing of that kind.


Before three o'clock on the day of our
setting out we had dropped our passen-
gers, one by one along the road, until
Sergeant Beach and myself were the only
ones left. About that time it came on to
snow, the wind drivingit it into the wagon,
and making everything very uncomfort-
able, in spite of the warmth Of our
clothes. Down it came, faster and fast
er, until it turned out as heavy a storm
rs had ever been seen in that part of the
country. The driver wanted to turn
back, but we would not permit it, and
urged the tired horses on in the hope of
reaching village. At last the effort was
of no use ; and while the painting horses
stopped to get little breath we asked
the driver whether there was not any
place about there where he could stay
for the night.


The man hesitated, and then, being
urged, answered Eyes; there's a
tavern just below here in the Gap, if We
like to stay there"


"What is the matter with it 2" was
Sergeant Beach's question.


He didn't know. Had never seen
anything himself, but had heard great
deal of talk. We might stay there all
night if we liked but as for him, he'd
go back mile or two anyway, and get
stabling for his horses, and come over
for us in the morning. We tried to say
something to the man, but it was of no
use; and so we We're obliged to consent
to the arrangement, and the horses were
once more urged forward, and in few
minutes we found ourselves hallooing in
front of large, ur painted board house,
q rarity In this part of the country, with
out sign of light, for it was then after
dark, glimmering through its windows


With some trouble we aroused the in
mates, and got admittance; and the land
lord, large, sullen looking man, who
eyed us and our baggage very strangely,
kindled fire himself while his wife,
slatternly woman, went about getting
us some supper.


Very soon there was smoking dish
of some kind of stew upon the table,
smelling rather good, and some hot corn
bread. To my astonishment, though
the sergeant drew up to the opposite
side of the table at the same time as I
did, he at once turned to the landlord
and asked whether he had nothing cold
in the house. Yes, he had cold
chicken. I declared / would rather have
the stew but q quick kick under the table
broke me off before the preference was
half expressed, and the landlord left the
room to get a chicken, as we'll as to boil
some eggs which Beach had ordered.


He had scarcely time to whisper to
me, impressively, to do as saw him do,
aud eat nothing but what he eat, when
the landlord returned with the fowl. ]
did not exactly understand the matter,
but obeyed orders, and eat as I had
been instructed, all the time much an
noyed by the slipping in and out of the
landlord and his wife, one of them, as il
were, continually mounting guard over
us.


At last, tho sergeant, as thought,