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.