Year: 1875

in Knoxville"


"Well, do you think the landlord knows
anything about them p


81 don't believe he is in league with
them. If he knows or suspects their bust
ness, he would not dare to say anything
they would murder him. Now 1 have
warned you, and 1 beg-you to be careful.
1 must hurry back, as it is getting light.
You viii never let them know that L warned
you?"


Certainly not, my girl, and I repeat
my thanks. | will be careful. Have no
fear that there will be anything like q muir
der. Good by"


Good by" she responded, and gliding
into the bushes she disappeared.
a nervous shudder ran over me as l
found myself once more alone on the quiet
mountain road, and looked keenly on all
sides, with feeling that danger was near
me. All was quiet, not even the footsteps
of the retrcating girl being audible.


| stood motionless and undecided for
full moment, then moved slowly, ON care
fully watching the bushes on either side,
to see ifanything like path left the road
for felt confident that the counter
= feiters den was some way between the Half
Way House and Campbelrs tavern, four
miles eastward.


} The road was dry and dusty, and the
light Of the morning soon enabled me to
, discern fresh tracks of human feet. | had
gone three-quarters of mile, with the tow
ering hill still on my right and the deep
gorge on my left, when | was struck by
the discovery Of fresh tracks directly across
the road


Examining the lower edge of the road 1
found, not path exactly, for the delivity
at that point was hard and stony, but
saw unmistakable signs that persons had
often descended at this point, for the bushes
showed that they had many times been
thrust aside, right and left, while some of


the smaller ones were trampled down and
broken.


While I was carefully noting these facts
[ was startled by low, harsh voice, which
said in my ear:


"Well, sir, what are you looking for p
l turned about quickly, and found my
self face to face with the tall man who paid
the fifty cent note at the Half Way House.


He scowled savagely, and, with long


hunting rifle in his hands, he reminded


me of Giant Despair calling Christian and
his companion to account for encroaching


on his domain.


Ny mind took in the situation in an in
I slant. 1t was useless to attempt to con-


ceal my true character, and there was moth
: ing left me but to struggle with that pow


erful and desperate man. I must not allow
him to escape, or it wonld defeat my ob-


ject and moreover I could see, by a savage


CLEAN in his eye, that he did not intend to


allowed me to escape if he could help it.


Plainly he intended to murder me-
, These thoughts passed through my mind


like flash, and summoning all my cool


ness and tact. [ somewhat surprised him
' by calmly replying to his question;


ooh, I was just looking for you"


He had expected that | would be start
g led and my complaicence surprised him and


threw him off his guard.


+ Quick as thought | dropped my satchel


and snatched his rifle intending to knock
him senselcss but his hold upon it was


firmer than | had thought, and instead OF


getting possessing for life with me with
, him, for liberty. He was much larger and
a stronger than myself, but | was more used


to handling men than he With my skill


against his strength, it was an equal match.


| need not describe how we went sway
ing to and fro in that fearful contest how


we went down the dusty earth together
how we rose, still struggling for the rifle


low we staggered to the edge of the road
and nearly tumbled down the declivity.


The contest lasted fully five minutes,
| and l began to feel my strength failing,
t when, by desperate effort, [ seized a slight
advantage and trippled him, throwing him
, heavily to the earth. He released the rifle
p as he fell but it seems that he had cooked
it before accosting me, and it was discharged
! at this moment, its sharp report striking
, kecnly on the morning air. He struggled


to his feet, but with one tremendous blow
| laid him out like log.


j would have clasped pair of hand


cuffs upon him, bat at that moment heard


loud excited voices and glancing down
l. | thrnn.rh the hushns / caIlrht n eclacn OF