CHAPTER II 
CROSSING THE CUMBERLAND MOUNTAINS 
HAD climbed but a short distance when 
] I was overtaken by a young man on horse- 
back, who soon showed that he intended to 
rob me if he should find the job worth while. 
After he had inquired where I came from, and 
where I was going, he offered to carry my bag. 
I told him that it was so light that I did not 
feel it at all a burden; but he insisted and coaxed 
until I allowed him to carry it. As soon as he 
had gained possession I noticed that he gradu- 
ally increased his speed, evidently trying to get 
far enough ahead of me to examine the con- 
tents without being observed. But I was too 
good a walker and runner for him to get far. 
At a turn of the road, after trotting his horse 
for about half an hour, and when he thought he 
was out of sight, I caught him rummaging my 
poor bag. Finding there only a comb, brush, 
towel, soap, a change of underclothing, a copy 
[17 ] 
