The Old Man And Linville Caverns

The Old Man And Linville Caverns by Irene Dayton Mysterious appearance of fish swimming from an unknown river led to discovery of Linville Caverns in the mountains of Western North Carolina. Soon after this, the Caverns served as a hiding place for deserters from both armies in the Civil War. An old man came to make and mend boots for the soldiers. OO Foraging for last pumpkins ofNovember, Eli saw him first—a lean figure against the split rail fence calling: "Hey, halt, where do you live? I'll give you some— they'll only rot." Eli, clutching large globes, turned: "We need a boot-maker more than food." "Halloo, I do that too. Are there many of you?" "We're not many but our boots are most gone." "Where you be? Got a son in the army. God only knows where. I hope he's got boots for winter." Eli went forward a stone's throw. "We're beyond the woods in the caverns." "Ho, I know them. Saw fish like this," he spread his hands, "swimming out of Humpback 35 Mountain. Followed the river under the mountain until darkness drove me out. But I saw visions— I swear visions of strange beings on walls. Then, some explorers found the real caverns." "That's where we are. Our boots won't last much longer. Can you come soon?" "Tomorrow before noon— when sun is over there. Used to mend shoes around these hills. The mule carries my pack." "We could send someone to help you." "No, 111 come on my own. I'll leave on my own. My gun will be with me." "Sure. We want no trouble." "You took some of my watermelons last summer?" "Yes Sir." "Soldier—if I come will you show me the caverns. Maybe I could see those fantandangles again." "Of course," Eli winced at the word soldier. At the opening of the cave Eli shouted "Someone help me." Arms reached to him. "Listen—I've found more than food. Tomorrow, a boot-maker will be here." Men gasped. "No, No, we don't want no one here." Fists clenched. One of the northern men strode to Eli. "Why did you do that?" "Wait a minute." Eli backed away. "Let me tell you how I met this man." A few sputtered, "This will be the gallows for us." Eli rubbed his head—"Look, we need an outsider like him—got a son in the war, he understands. " Union men raised a tirade. Southerners took out their guns. "O.K.," if anything happens, it's your life. Yours and his. You even told him how to get here." "No, I didn't. He knows about the caverns. He's been here once. Wants to see the visions as he calls these fantasies on the walls. I know men He's all right. Aren't we eating from his garden patch?" "Yeah, you know men—you were in charge of latrine details." Laughter and scorn fused through the cave. Eli gave most 36 of the pumpkins to his own brigade of southern men. He turned to his buddy, "A foul mood has come over them." "It's only we hadn't counted on an outsider, Eli. Things will square away. You did take a cnance." "Nothing must happen to that old man, Daniel." Eli slept, wakened, studied the rolled figures in motley mended clothes. "Well, they will see it like a new moon when their boots don't leak." During the winter clammy cold moved upon walls. Men changed straw on floor stealing from hayricks. Now pine needles and dry moss. Cold penetrated bones. Water seeped into boots, though the temperature remained constant. War languished, battles began and were fought. Time slow as the forms on the walls crept on. And days and nights were long in a shutaway world. II Around eleven that morning they heard slapping sounds. Someone throwing rocks into the stream. "Halloo-you be there?" "I'll get him. You watch the men," Eli mumbled to Daniel. "Here—this waythrow in your pack." "Can't, it's too heavy." "Is the mule tethered away from the entrance?" "Tarnation yes—about an eighth...