Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-01-25
could scarcely keep up with him as he
.do Lte NOV tbrough the forest

could scarcely keep up win MN "S n'
made MS way through the forest
Rack of them followed two or three
othels-men and boys on foot with oo9'
yelping md barking. A.
Hank hastily made his way to the
point he thought the sounds came from
He called loudly to those near MN 10
follow These in turn shouted 10 otherS
and blew their tin horns.
In ten minutes, or less time, cons'd-
crab,e number were directly in the rear
of Hank Dawson, who pressed on quick
" until he reached a spot that over
looked considerable cxpansc OF coun-
try.
This spot was known to the old in
habitants of the county as Badly.
It was a spot that Nature socmed to
have left unfinished. The rocks were so
large and thick-so heavily piled on top
of each other-that they looked like a
p:le of material tossed down in heap,
in hurry. Tho trees would not gro"
thcre. Some vines grew around The
gray rocks, and few berries.
The place had such a lonely, such a
drearv. desolate aspect that mankind
avoided it. The hunter happening that
wav never did more than glance at the
waste place, shudder as the prospect OF
nlunging into snakes dens rose rapidly
in his mind, and turn his back cheerful
on Badly.
Even to Hank Dawson the place did
not look very inviting.
Tho Big Rock he had spoken OF
loomed up before him 1t was marve
in height. length and sOlidity. What
seemed to the eye of the traveller on the
road far below a stone as large as a.
average log cabin rose sheer, abruptly
at least fifty feet Its gray face wa
wrjpkled with the wash of untold con
turies. The rocks near it were dwarfc(
in comparison,
Not a living creature was in sight.
"Curus." said Hank Dawson, might.
Gurus, this is. I'm certain that shO
came from here"
As Hank stood looking over Baldy,
group gathered near him.
Suddenly there was shOut-a lou'
voice was heard, followed by another Il
alteration. Then there were sounds o
scuTe.
The sounds seemed to come from tn
base of the big rock.
"Blast my cats" a favorite expletiv
with Hank Dawson. 81 ought to knoN
that voice"
Then, picking his way carefully anon
the rocks-they were very thick thcr
where he stoOd-he added, in loud voice
to his companions:
"Come on, boys-that's Clubs gun
heard, I'm pretty sure; and I'm just a
sure heard her voice"
He pushed on over the stones, an
passed around the corner OF the big re; ;
on Baldy, when those nearest him hear
him utter a sharp exclamation and lea
from his horse
1t was not much wonder
What Hank Dawson beheld was Su'ii
cient to stir the blood Of more sluggis
men.
The scene that met his gaze there
Baldv was talked of years afterward.
In the cavity between the enormt
rock and q lesser rock at its base in tn
rear was a rude cabin. The cabin wa
wholly concealed from the view of tho:
who chanced to come that way. Ihel
was but one way to perceive it, and thi
) was by approaching it from the corn'
of the rock Hank Dawson had a
! preached it.
Even there the few bushes and vine
! clambering over the face of the low-lyln
rocks almost concealed the cabin.
Standing where Hank Dawson a
S preached it, his attention was attractC
! bv the flutter of a dress he well kne'
Then his eye followed the movements
o his daughter, first to a man lying on u
4 ground, next to a man who crouched [
] fore the rife aimed at him.
The rife was in the hands OF Gnu
= The man crouching at the base OF ROT
= was one OF the Monks gang.
h From all other sides the opening b
n tween the two rocks was concealed, hr
by underground, then by rocks tumbl
b up promiscuously. The roof of the cab
/, that caught Hanks eye was formed
g placing limbs of trees between the ed
o and side of the small rock and the Ia
@ of the great gray rock.
Hank Dawsons eye took these deta
IS In at single glance, and then, as ha
!. related, he leaped from his horse a.
sprang toward his daughter, cxclaimin
1t "J'm here, Chub!"
@ 10 BE CONTINUED.