I was so weary and worn out by my constant riding and so in need of
sleep that it was only by determined effort that I could keep my eyes
open. Several times I roused to the unpleasant conviction that I had
been asleep in my saddle. I knew that would not do, for I well knew that
even in that seemingly quiet district constant watchfulness was needed
and that later on fresh dangers would need freshened faculties and
renewed energy to meet them. So I decided to allow myself an hour's
rest.
As quick as I found a suitable place, which I soon did in the shape of a
narrow, rock-hung ravine, which branched off at my right hand between
two almost perpendicular walls of mountains, I stopped, and dismounting,
led my horse in after me. When we had penetrated several rods I
tethered my horse behind some bushes, so that he could graze, and
crawled into a leaf cushioned hole between two rocks.
I have always had the faculty of waking at any predetermined time, and
when I roused from a heavy sleep of exhaustion I had exceeded my hour's
allowance by only ten minutes.
Passing cautiously down the ravine before leaving its shelter, I tried
to make sure by observation from a rock up the bank that there were no
obstacles in view. A little spring a short way down the road made a most
inviting halting place and I did not want to start out if it chanced to
be occupied. As the coast was clear, I was soon on my way, and having
the benefit of a fair road, made good time.
As I turned a sharp corner I involuntarily drew a quick breath at the
scene before me. My surroundings were wild in the extreme. I was riding
along a limestone ridge, which jutted out from the wall of mountains
behind. Looking down I saw before me dark, dense forests covering lesser
elevations. Looking up toward my right the rock-crested mountains were
outlined against a clear sky, from which the sun had just disappeared
behind their fantastic peaks. As I gazed, the sun sinking lower, left
the depths at my left in twilight, the ravines became black lines and
the thick growth of cedar and other trees fringing them looked only a
shade less sombre. The whole picture was one of deep solitude and wild
grandeur.
Since the dissolving view of Southerners to which I had been treated I
had not seen a human soul. Ahead of me about ten miles was the village
of J---- and as all seemed quiet, I decided to stop there, if nothing
turned up in the meantime, and get supper and some information by which
to shape my plans for the next day.
The night, unlike the previous one, was beautifully clear, and the
moon, full a few nights before, was up when I entered J----.
I knew very well where a notorious Rebel by the name of Deputy lived,
and thinking it would do him good to serve his country for once in his
life by telling me what I wanted to know, I made my way toward his
house, which stood near the center of the village.
I found him swinging a tow-headed boy on the gate, the urchin shrieking
with delight whenever the clumsy thing came to with a clap that
threatened to dislodge him from his perch. As Deputy caught sight of me
he stopped that interesting occupation and was ready to ply me with
questions before I had drawn rein. He took me for one of Leonard's men
at once, which gave me a hint that they, if not already in the vicinity,
were expected.
I fostered his mistake and told him that I was one of a foraging party
sent on ahead and that I had lost my way. This information was rewarded
by a cordial invitation to "light and take supper." Going up to the open
door he called to some one inside:
"Say, Sallie, hurry up supper, one of our boys is a stoppin'."
Coming back he put down a good bundle of fodder and some oats for my
horse outside the gate. I followed him in to the supper he had called
his wife to hurry up for me.
I gave that man more news about what had happened down below than he had
had for a long time. I did not care a hard tack about keeping to facts
and no punctillo prevented me from arranging the stories to suit his
taste. In return he told me all he knew about the late movements of
troops, and as he had just returned that afternoon from M----, he was
pretty well posted in affairs across the river. Returning to the
immediate vicinity, I soon discovered that the country in the direction
I was going was clear. I did not care what high jinks they cut up down
the other way just then, as long as I was not detained.
I also learned that word had been brought in that afternoon that
General Leonard and his troops were to pass through the town before
morning, and that the red-hot Rebels which made up the population were
planning to give them a loyal reception.
I was finishing an excellent cup of coffee when a shout from the little
fellow at the gate took Deputy out. I heard a call or two and some hasty
talking with passers by, then Deputy entered, much excited.
"Lucky for you, some of Leonard's troops are just crossing the bridge
and some in advance have already stopped on the Square," was his
astounding announcement.
"Sure it's not some of the Yankees?" I asked.
"You bet it ain't; Jim Buckner came in with them and that man I was
talkin' to was Bill Stiver, hurryin' down to tell Jim's folks to go up
and see him, because they ain't goin' to 'tinner on long."
I did not wait for a very formal leave taking. With a muttered excuse
about my being obliged to report at once, I hurried out, untied my horse
and was off.
I could see a crowd in front of the tavern as I passed into a side
street. When I turned into my road again I struck into a gallop. As I
passed a road running into mine at an obtuse angle, a small squad of
cavalry was coming down it at a leisurely pace. I saw plainly in the
bright moonlight that there were not more than two dozen of them. They
sang out a challenge, but I neither stopped or increased my speed.
Looking back I saw them turn toward town when they entered the road I
was on.
They must have had their suspicions roused, however, and turned back
almost immediately, for I soon heard the sound of fast riding behind me.
I put my horse to his best speed, but he was jaded, while theirs were
evidently fresh. The bullets soon came spattering against the rocks and
trees around me with alarming frequency. They certainly did their best
to persuade me to stop, but did not happen to touch a spot to make their
coaxing effectual.
The moment to lose my horse, which I had been anticipating from the
first, had come at last. My pursuers were gaining on me and the question
of which of them should have the pleasure of shooting me was merely a
question of who should hit first. They were still too far behind and the
moonlight too indistinct in the narrow and wooded gorge, which the road
had just entered, for them to see me, but they were drawing closer every
moment. Freeing my feet from the stirrups, I gave my horse a cut with
the whip and slipped to the ground. Lightened of his burden he flew on
with accelerated speed, his hoofs ringing down the rocky road and
guiding my pursuers past where I lay at the bottom of a ravine, down the
sides of which I had tumbled with celerity and a series of somersaults
of which a circus rider need not have been ashamed.