EXPERIENCES OF A TRAPPER AND HUNTER 
FROM YOUTH TO OLD AGE 
By T. ALEXANDER 
CHAPTER Y. 
I had built myself a log cabin at our farm home as I had become 
so attached to the one my father had built when I was a small boy. 
New r Year's had arrived and I was ready to make my start for 
Arkansas. The evening before the first my father said, “Christmas 
is over and you must go to work tomorrow morning.” I made no 
reply. I had secured a large satchel that my mother had made out 
of what was known as “cover lid” stuff, woven out of all wool goods. 
It had two handles and was made in a bag form. T placed my clothing 
in this during the early part of the evening and about 7 :00 P. M. I 
picked up my satchel, walked out of my cabin and started west. My 
dogs were on the watch and thought I was off for a coon hunt, so 
they followed me down to the creek. I knew I could not take my 
dogs, so I took rocks and threw at them and made them go back to 
the house. This was hard and I cried like a whipped child. With 
the exception of my mother I did not so much mind parting with my 
people, but I hated to leave my dogs for I loved them dearly. The 
dogs obeyed but I heard Braun set up a howl and the rest seconded 
him. This was something I had never heard them do before and I 
will always believe they knew I was leaving them for good. 
I had traveled as far as Centerville, our county seat, before—it 
was only 15 miles from home—and as the road to Centerville lead 
west, I took it. I reached Centerville about 11:00 o'clock that night. 
I did not walk down the main streets but choose the back ones, as I 
did not want to be identified. I had remembered seeing a road lead¬ 
ing west w r ith a signboard on it reading “Britt’s Landing, 37 miles.” 
This road I took from Centerville and I walked all night. The next 
morning I came in sight of a large hewed log cabin. As I walked 
near the house I saw an elderly man and four younger men washing 
their faces and knew by that that breakfast was ready. I hollored 
“Hello” and they answered with “Come in,” so I walked in and 
asked if I could get breakfast. They told me “Yes; here is a pan, 
wash and get ready.” This I did and breakfast was announced. We 
were all seated at a long table that reached almost across the room 
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