I remember going hunting with two of my cousins. We went to the Flatwoods area to hunt squirrel. When we got to the woods we parted company, and I took off by myself. At first the woods were quiet, there was not much activity, I began to move from one patch of woods to another. After changing sections of woods a number of times I became lost.

In trying to find my way back to the truck, I realized that I could not figure out which way was the right way. I used my gun to signal for help by blowing through the barrel which was a common thing to do when one wanted to get someone's attention, but no one came to me or answered by blowing their gun barrel to signal me that they were close by.

I had been told by the older folks, "when lost try to find a creek and follow it until it leads to someone home and they can help you find your way again." However, I didn't want to get any farther from the place where we left the truck. After sitting and thinking for a while, I thought I could make it back to the truck, so I went on a way I thought was right. I came upon a small house in a clearing. I stopped to see if anyone could help. There were three rather large dogs that met me at the edge of the yard and held me off, until someone came to see who was there. When they came and asked me "who I was looking for?" I told them that I was squirrel hunting and had lost my directions back to the truck. Before they would offer any help they needed to know

"Where I was from?"

"Who my parents were?"

"What I was doing in that part of the county?"

After I answered all of their questions, they said, "you're not far from where you left the truck and your cousins." Was I ever glad to see the sight of that truck and my two cousins when they finally returned to the truck!

Some time later I realized that I was in the Gadberry area of Adair County, where one of my aunts and her family lived.

_Carlis