Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1900-08-24

nc trout Dtutdtl viz kiuSSi VI
Looks out for shipwrecked flies and
midges,
The red deer comes in search of drink
From laurel brake and woodland ridges.
Beneath a hemlock grim and dark
Where shrub and vine are INTERVENING,
Our shanty stands well rooted with bark,
In which cheerful fire IS shining
The smoke ascends in spiral wreaths,
With upward curves the sparks are
trcnding.
Where smoke and sparks and leaves are
:. blending"
-Forcst.and Stream
SguvyvvuuUvvUUvvUUu@
gHeId For Ransom. S
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
L was evening among
<h- the "olive-sandaled
!. ]. !: !. !. 1. !. !. !.
II ~S Apennines Al Gu
II "a glishman ami his
VI valet had climbed
II kSs the steep Via Cru
II Y els, aDd,Seatcd upon
II H a projecting rock,
D M4 were Cntranced by
J a the bewildering
fy"9[7aayS--.s.ss;g blue of the Medi-
t--S-zsstrsEsy3 terraneaD. he
I-%2 breeze from The
~ u hills WAS rufIiinG
! the blue into purple, and, further off,
Awherc the sea was silvery green the
Instant mountains of Corsica rose faint
h from it's breast
Jack" continued CathCart, turning
his valet, can hour hence il will be
rk ard we have not yet struck upon
hospice of San Columlio, where
thought of spending The hight"
Ne are OH the right path said the
"of that | am sure;I but three
Amilcs have yet 10 IL done be-
e get shelter
we had better q on The
are beginning TOT darlen the
it'll their gloom4
not our way SAL the
is sir an ,bo o"f' x u no fet s"'n;
!, eNamine6the twOpaths,
some thoght said
~, ~" are ,lght, 1 thing
selected led into 1 mar
,,i eriung by frownjle prec-
Hsht soon faded aWny and
sraduAlly encompass,d the
1poVe91 fafhcart was Draw man
and cared little for danger; but Jatk,
the valet began to grow uneasy at
the situation. Two or three times tley
saw q dim light in the distance, Dut
merely for moment, This was the
pnly indication they had Of life until
low whistle Startled them.
did YOU hear that:" asked Cath
t;Agt as lie turned round and peercd in
toVhc darkness behind.
''Vhcre are no brigapds here; so The
innEl eeper told ne. In0pcd, | have left
my NistOl behind me-
"Let us make off, cried The valet.
mo" said Cathcart, firmly. I've
must stand our ground. Here they
come
As he spoke two men Of dark visage
came UP They wore long, loose
clOaks and slouched hats.
I'VE have lost our way said Cath
cart TO the strangers. Can you pont
GU The path 10 San ColumbO"
eve can answered both Of the
voices. "This is the road"
All iqurneycd on together, Enrico, as
one Of the strangers called himself, be-
guiled the way with song until he
reached a mountain cavern.
I'VE arc at San Columbo," he said.
"Glott0 handcuff these NEIL" And
Enrico produced Il heavy horse-pistol,
and threatened to shoot at the first
map--Mh6- made aus resistance.
- thcart and the valet were led man
al into the mountain gorge, and,
Eing gradual descent. they found
slselves in an isolated hollow.
Xpund n bright wood fire were scat
motley group in strange cos
-Four sinister looking ruffians
1ounging on the grass. Two OF
werc attending TO the horses An
naggar,l old woman, like Pyth-
rcercss, stirred pot which hung
he fire.
have really fallen into the hands
pers, Jack" whispered Cathcart.
instant the prisoners were
ided by the whole group.
thou an Englishman:" asked
said Catlcart
thou art rich like al thy
hen, and thou cInst afford to
pod price for thy ransom.
he added, whats TO be the
housand crowns,' chorused
gang.
arts valuables were taken
ut he was allowed TO keep
strait, which he earnestly
night be allowed TO retain.
5 were given to Cathcart
ay his ransom, and he and
&c left alone by The fire.
pncrs talked over the sit
IS girl appeared upon the
them some food. There
tenderness and compass
face as she gaZed OH
lich inspired them with
pic so beautiful rs you
ouniain wilds:" asked