The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-02-01

creator OF the Universe. And had it been
located in spot easy Of access, it would.
no doubt at this day, be resorted to. rs
one of the curiosities Of Nature, but being
OF itself, mountain, and surrounded on
AL sides hy mou rtains, more or less re-
mote, 1t seems almost impossible to hew
out a road, that could safely conduct the
curious to its vicinity. The Wata,fpa
the River Of Islands," floats along with
Its sllveri stream, within one mile Of this
natnraleditice, and hurrying on in a north.
eastern direction, breaks with the widest
grandeur, through the Stone Mountain
where rolling and tossing onward, il is
lost IN the waters Of the broad Tennessee.
+ FROM the east, at right angles with Il @
Watauga, and which empties into il there
flows a rivulet known under several titles.
yet the common appellation is "Cove
Creek" Near by on the north of this
stream is situated the adamantine home
OF the robbers, which battles descriptiop.
But to have an idea Of its form and dimen-
S'ons, conceive a lofty ridge of rock run
n'nS east and west, parallel with the Creek
just mentioned, and from the south ofthis
ridge let imagination picture huge por-
tico of rock rising perpendicular two hun
dred and fifty feet, and measures three
hundred in length. About midway on
level with the surface Of the earth. there
drops back. cave or chamber beneath
this massive heap, fifteen feet in front and
receding several yards, comes to point
similar to one half Of a common house
roof This chamber or cavern is capable
OF containing score of horses and twice
the number of men. At present il serves
as n shelter, to numerous sh.ep nd swine
that seek refuge from the chilling blasts
Of winter. -
At the tine Walter Van Hcndrick and
his mysterious companion were travelling
this wild mansion was tenanted by eiyht
or ten individuals who for great part of
the summer and fall resided here and
hitner the Mountaineer was conducting
our hero, whose curiosity. was now highly
lntlamed. We left them at the strikers,
but taking a respite from the weary road,
and having seen Them refreshed we will
follow them to their horrid den where
many dark and fendish plan was deeply
laid 10 entrap the unwary farmer as he
trudgcd unsuspectingly along the file Of
hills that lie adjacent on all sides.
The worthless above named logged
along until they came to the creek which
was in their road where they halted, and
after listening moment, the Mountaneer
draws his key from his pocket AID gives
two piercing shrieks, in order to let them
know he was not alone; suddenly about
one hundred PAGES in front Of them to-
wards the right Of the rock, they heard
the responsive humping again.
"We will go on" said the Mountain.
eer, "until we arrive where this noise pro-
ceeds, and then will show YOU how to
act, rs We must initiate you tonight, 9th.
erw'se YOU cannot partake Of our hospi-
tality." Saying this, they advanced until
they came to a huge chestnut which was
hollow and served admirably for a sentry
box, as well as to produce the initiative
sound Of the pheasant's drumming, the
wei known, signal Of the Rock House.
Here they dismounted, and the. man who
received them, took their iaded s,eeds and
placed them in the west end Of the cave.
which 10y being, separated by the intro
duetion Of poles from the other end, served
as n stable.
lie returned and conducted the Noun
taneer TO the house while Walter was left
at the post, having previously told him
they would call him in as soon as they
were ready. 1t was now eleven o'clock
and very dark, the moon had long since
shed her last beams, and Walter being
alone, had fair opportunity to reflect on
what he was about to undertake. lie
kne" he.yas pledging himself to plunge
IN q course ofwickedness and crime which
might be overtaken sometime, and the
perpetrato. be exposed to toilso,ne exile
OF painful death he could not now rs.
track be would bear his part Of the good
and bad OF their system Of maraudine, let
consequences be what they might; irres-
Holulion in his opinion, WAS q species Of
eowardice,, Presently, to his grea, relief,
came two men who told him they were
ready. and asked him II he was willing 10
Join them; he replied affirmatiyely. Then
forthwith, they bound his eyes with belt
of pockskiu, then led him in. The front
Of the cave had no doors; the only eucio-
sure was a cIump Of laurel that grew 40