Year: 1871

| concluded mat thcrC was house no


far of, for the light remained stationery


Say what you will Il man Of ordinary


strong nerves will feel u strange scnyi


ton creeping over him, far from home


surrounded by wood, glade and ravinc, il


wild and savage country. At any


rate felt such sensation. | would


not acknowledge il as fear, for did no


consider myself c,ward Oh, how the


wind roared through the trees ald arounc


the hills, making sound Ike the "ru~l


of mighty waters" Then the thunder


began to peal forth lis savage notes


shaking the very mountains under my


feet Binding flashes Of lightning shot
out from the sky, followed almost stimuli,


taneously by the crashing of tn" thunder
and heavy drops of rain. Thcu the


storm broke with all is fury. Oh, how
the rain did pour in an instant. was
drenchcd to the skin. Ny poor horse.
too, seemed to give up TO the torrent,


for he stood still. last thea there came
a vivid flash Of lightning, amos. feeling
warm on my face. | nsrincively turn.
ed in my saddle, and before the light
diel away perceived q house not far
distant, but few rods to my right. 1t
was undoubtedly the house | was hoping
to reach before dark, reincd my horse
toward the house, and giving him the
rein let him go, knowing that he would
find the way by animal instinct better
than man with all his reason. In a few
moments | reached barn or shed at
tached to the house, and drove under its
welcome shelter. | remained there a
short time until there was a slight lull
in the storm, and then | shouted to the
inmates of the house with all my might.
| was heard, for in a few moments u
man appeared at one side of the shed
bearing a lantern in his hand.


Halo, friend, | cried out, can ] get
lodging here tonight, supper and place
for my horse"


He made no reply, but came slowly
forward, holding the light so that it
would shine upon me but not upon him
self. After he had surveyed me from
head to foot for what seemed TO me an
age, he gruhly asked me my name, and
what in - was there for. told
him my name, and that was a traveller
who was belated and driven to seek shell
ter there from the storm, and again
my request for lodging.


"Yas, yer can have some supper if
yer wants to- he replied. "tlcre, Jim,'
he cried, "take care o this felIers hoss.'


In few minutes Jim appeared. lie
was a youth of about Is or 20 as near
as | could Judge. He was tall and
strongly built, aud seemed to possess
great physical powers. His features
were low and repulsive, and altogether
he seemed as much like a species of
brute as man; in fact his personal ap
pearance did not prcposscss me in his
favor. He took my horse, anu the man
bade me follow him into the house,
which, by The way, was 4 very large one
for that section. On one side Of the
room which we entered there was q large
fireplace, blazing in a most cheerful
manner. This was my first observation.
The occupants of the room were wo.
man and girl, who left the room as |
came in. The woman looked at me in
a strange staring way, which was un-
accountable. She was u woman of
some forty years, though perhaps not so
old. She looked as though she had had
no very agreeable lot in life. She was
bowed down with care and grief, as it
seemed to me; though not particularly
good looking, yet she had Il kind look
that made up for the ravagcs of time
and sorrow. | asked herif could have
a room where | could change my
clothes.


80, yes she replied, "como this
wayw Aud she led the way up flight
of stairs to u room above, aud then told
me | could have the room and went
down. The room was lily furnished,
there being but little furniture in it; but
| did not stop to notice the room. |
changed my wet clothes as quickly as
possible, and then l went down to the
kitchen and drew myself up to the fire.
| was nearly chilled through, aud the
blazing and roaring fire felt exceedingly
The woman was busy
getting me some supper. just then the
man came in. He did not come up to
the fire, but withdrew to the other side
of the room where he could observe me
closely without my noticing that he was
watching me. His singular behavior
reused my suspicious, for had been
bufeted around the world among all
kinds of men until | had become some
what observaut of the actions of those
whom | met. thought would ques-
tion him little concerning the country,
perhaps to draw him out and find out
who he was, aud also might gain some
valuable information concerned the lands
in that section. asked him how far