The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-09-27
CHAPTER XVI,
ON THE rRAIL-A DISCOVERY.

round soon. And mind, everybody's to
make straight for the Corners first
After that-and, oh! yes, dad, don't
forget the horns-they must bring horns
and keep blowing them. And If they
find anything they must fire guns-that's g
the easiest and best plan I can think OF
now."
"That's the best idea out, Chub."
aWell, make haste, dad. I'll find Dan
before sunset; be sure will, dad"
II hope and trust you may, Chub."
The neighbors, although living Tar
apart, soon heard Of the rare opportun-
ity to make q considerable sum OF money,
and at the same time settle for all time
the question of the disappearance OF Dan
Bash.
In less than an hour thirty men and
as many boys were gathered ut the
Corners. There were dozen good dogs,
and some ours that ought to have been
drowned.
A number had horns and everybody
had gun.
It was Club Dawson who issued or
ders. She did it in such clear terms
that nobody could fail to comprehend
just what he had to do.
aDad, I'll 20 with Mr.. Bash and these
boys, and you take the same road you
went over last night Now, we are all
ready" .t
=. 1t was thus: the quest for the Counter
feiters' factory was; begun in earnest
and the most exciting and thorough
search that had yet been made for Dan
Bash.
1t is unnecessary to say that Club
had, with the assistance Of Mr.. Bash,
instructed o number OF those heading
the different little groups to be on the
lookout for every sign that indicated the
presence, at any time, Of man.
All crevices, heavy underground, caves
end great hollow trees were to be exam
And everything that seemed like pit
or Strange and unusual depression in the
earth was to be examined.
Club still remembered her strange
dream. Her lover was lying bound some
where. Bound by his enemies and left
to die, or else some cruel fate had Or
dered it that nature was responsible for
bis condition.
+ The horns blew; the sound echoed
over the mountain tops as the search was
prosecuted. The dogs barking assisted
the hunters in keeping near each other.
"We are taking in heap of territory
in this hunt" said Hank Dawson to his
neighbor as they Joined each other ut
the end Of an hour.
@Yes, indeed; we're spread out pretty
wide. / reckon this is leetle the big
gest swath any hunting party has ever
cut on any mountains. There's enough
in the search now to find every squirrel
and snake within FIVE miles Of the regu-
lar road. Seems as if the whole coun-
try's out now"
1t was true.
Either the earnestness displayed by
those who heard of the money to be
earned or an unaccountable whim seized
the people. Wherever the searchers
moved they were quickly joined by
who spread ont until upward Of
a hundred were engaged in the search,
on horseback and afoot
There! Did you hear .hat?"
1t was Hank Dawson, who held his
head to one side quickly.
"Thats gun"
@Yes-off to the right"
"Where would it be, likely?"
Hank reflected.
"Well, now, believe can locate thai.
If they'd only fire another"
He put hand up to his. ear and
nodded.
~ thought So Two got it now"
"Where did the sound come from?-
these echoes mislead me-" said his neigh
Dor.
"Yes-they are misleadin'-but I've
got the pint-we'll come to them right
smart now-mind if we don't"
There's another.
"They must be in hurry-a Desky
hurry. Well make out to get there on
time, now, reckon"
sBut you haven't told me where it is. {"
aOh! 1 meant to. Why, as near as I
can guess, that shootiI' Is about the
Big Rock"
u know as much now IS did afore. :"
@Humph! Well, there's lots O. folks
round here that amt bit wisar than
you be-"
Hank Dawson was urging his horse
forward now speedily. His companion
could scarcely keep up with him as he
made his way through the forest.
Back of them followed two or three
others-men and boys on foot with dogs
yelping and barking.
Hank hastily made his way to the
point he thought the sounds came from.
He called loudly to those near him to
follow. These in turn shouted to others
and blew their tin horns.
In ten minutes, or less time, consid.
cradle number were directly in the reaI
of Hank Dawson, who pressed on quick.
iy until he reached spot that over.
looked considerable expanse OF coun
| try.
This spot was known to the old in.
habitants of the county as Badly.
1t was spot that Nature seemed to
have left unfinished. The rocks were Sc
large and thick-so heavily piled on toI
of each other-that they looked like s
pile of material tossed down in heap
in hurry. The trees would not grow
there. Some vines grew around thu
gray rocks. and few berries.
The place had such lonely, such {
dreary, desolate aspect, that mankinC
avoided it. The hunter happening tina
way never did more than glance at thu
waste place, shudder as the prospect ot
plunging into snakes dens rose rapid!
in his mind, and turn his back cheerful!
on Badly.
Even to Hank Dawson the place dit
80 l., t.