Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-01-25
CHAPTER y vi.
ON THE rRAIL-A DISCOVERY.

aNow. dad" said Club, as they has
tened home, "you go to Speer's-havc
the women folks send to the men; tell
them they'll get $40 apiece, and five Tor
all the boys, and the same for every dog
thev bring. I'll ride to KeggerS, and
Pl get them to send over to Whalley $
that's the best p an to got the Woru
round soon. And mind, everybodys 10
make straight for the Corners nrSt
After that-and, oh! yes, dad, don't
forget the horns-they must 0rlng horhS
and keep blowing them. And il they
find anything they must lire guns.tnat
the easiest and best plan | can think OF
now."
"1h hats the best idea out, Club"
aWell. make haste, dad. I'll find Dan
before sunset; be sure l will, dad.
II hope and trust you may, Club"
The neighbors, although living FAR
apart, soon heard of the rare oprortun-
ity to make considerable sum of money,
and at the same time settle for all tin G
the question of the disappearance OF Dan
| Bash.
In less than an hour thirty mon and
as many boys were gathered at the
! Corners There were dozen good dogs,
and some ours that ought to have been
| drowned.
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.
"Dad, I'll go with Mr.. Fash an1 these
bows, and you take the same roal you
went over last night Now, we are all
ready"
It 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.
It is unnecessary to say that Club
had. with the assistance of Mr.. Bash,
instructed a 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
and great hollow trees were to be exam
ined closely. -.
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 1or
his 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
ave are taking in heap of territory
in this hunt" said Hank Dawson to his
neighbor as they joined each other at
the end of an hour
ayes. indeed; we're spread out pretty
wide. / reckon this is leetle the olg-
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."
It was true.
Either the earnestness displayed by
those who heard of the money to cC
earned or an unaccOuntable whim selzeC
the people. Wherever the searcher'
moved they were quickly joined by
others who spread out until upward o.
a hundred were engaged in the search
on horseback and afOOt.
"There! Did you hear that?"
1t was Hank Dawson, who held his
head to one side quickly
"That's gum"
"Yes-off to the right"
"Where would it be, likely?"
Hank reflected
"Well, now, believe | can locate that
If they'd only fire another
He put a hand up to his ear ant
nodded.
81 thought so. I've got it now"
"Where did the sound come from?-
these echoes mislead me-" said his neigh
Dor.
"Yes-they are miSleadn'-but 1v
got tho pint-we'll come to them riSh'
smart now-mind if we don't"
"There's another"
"They must be in hurry-a pesky
1 hurry. Well make out to get there OF
time, now, reckon. "
"But you haven't tod me whore it is.
"Oh! / meant to- Why, as near as
can guess, that shootin' is about tn
Big Rock"
81 know as much now as did afore.
@Humph! Well, there's lots O fox
round here that amt a bit wiser thai
you be-"
Hank Dawson was urging his horS
Iic in