The Cumberland Mountains 



far apart and uninhabited, orchards and fences 

 in ruins sad marks of war. 

 -^- About noon my road became dim and at 

 last vanished among desolate fields. Lost and 

 hungry, I knew my direction but could not keep 

 it on account of the briers. My path was indeed 

 strewn with flowers, but as thorny, also, as mor 

 tal ever trod. In trying to force a way through 

 these cat-plants one is not simply clawed and 

 pricked through all one s clothing, but caught 

 and held fast. The toothed arching branches 

 come down over and above you like cruel liv 

 ing arms, and the more you struggle the more 

 desperately you are entangled, and your 

 wounds deepened and multiplied. The South 

 has plant fly-catchers. It also has plant man- 

 catchers. 



After a great deal of defensive fighting and 

 struggling I escaped to a road and a house, but 

 failed to find food or shelter. Towards sun 

 down, as I was walking rapidly along a straight 

 stretch in the road, I suddenly came in sight of 

 ten mounted men riding abreast. They un- 

 [27] 



