Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1912-09-19
CHAPTER VIII.

clouds
and sent its 6azzling rays into the little
tTost-covered valley. The morning vas
cool and the air exhilersting. so that
the little band resumed their march At
a rapid pace
Wen, friends, said Jim shortly aft
er leaving Hardin's cabin, how do We
all like the prospects aforc US uow?'
IL Wit we've been told is true. - re-
piled Randolph, We ought to soon over
take the CopPevhead snd his gang
What l don't understand" said
Moore, lis why the cd scoundrel is
travelling by himself"
That's part O. his game" repled
jim, 'he knew they would be pursued.
and he's actin as scout fer rest Nv the
gang, which must have slipped aroun'
ole Hardin's through the woods. BY
this time he may 6 give US out follerin'
nm an gone on to jine the gang"
That's about right" said Reuben.
VINO always agreed with Jim in his
views on every question.
A mile or so from the old mountain
GERS cabin the path which our heroes
were traversing entered gloomy thick
ct Of rho6odendron that extended for
several hundred yards along the creek.
IL was with some apprehension that
they approached it, for it afforded an
excellent ambuscsde, but they passed
through without seeing any living thing.
Il didn't like the 'pearance o. that
place a little bit" said Sampson after
emerging from the thicSet. Its list
sich place es Ole julie would choose
to hide in an 'sassinate n Teller"
Il wuz 'spectin' every minute to hear
the crack o. the old DEVILS rife" re-
piled Reuben.
The party had kept steadily on their
way since leaving Hardin's cabin. and
by noon had reached the Virginia line
where It crosses Knox creek.
Here we come to my native county. 30
said Sampson, Il know that ar big
beech over thar is one Nv the line trees
While I'm not so familiar with this part
~ the county, still I feel ut rome i.sr
the same"
A little farther up the path at g point
where the creek ran smoothly over beds
OF clean white gravel, the party stop
ped and ate their midday meal. After
this was finished they resumed their
journey with renewed energy.
The little valley was covered with q
dense growth of henllock AID rhododer-
dron, " hich almost excluded even The
piercing rays of sunlight from the little
band Of Adventures. Great owls fit
ted from tree to tree, and occasionally
their hooting could be heard far up the
dark glens. which sent their streamIets
into the main creek at right angles.
The little band mad Travelled long and
hard since noon, and the evening sbsd-
ows were now beginning to settle thick
ly sil about them, but they determined
to push on as far and rapidly as they
could. The valley was certainly a dis
NAL place, with no signs Of human babi-
tation. and to add to the dreariness of
the approaching darkness, the owls had
set up such hullabaIoo that it seemed
as if thousand demons had been loosed
for the night.
This must be the home o. all the
hoot-owls in the universe" said Jim to
his companions as the noise grew loud
er, fer III sw'ar never heerd so
menny in all my life afore.''
81 nuther," said Reuben. "Tbev
must hev all Din to Old Sis still en- got
on drunk to make EN- whoop and hol-
Ter es they're dom now."
1t was now very dark and the men be-
gan looking about for a suitable place
IN which to spend the night While thus
engaged, a CLEAN of light far up a little
cove caught their eyes All watched to
see if the light were moving, but their
delight found it was not.
Maybe we have found another moon
sinner" spoke up Ben Moore, as he
peered in the direction of the light.
You may be right" returned Samp-
son, "but I'm NV the 'pinion hits the
very crowd we're lookin' fer. I'm goin'
ter take peep at 'em, no matter'n who
they is.
Suiting action to his words, he crossed
the creek. followed closely by his com
panions- The night had grown intense
ly dark, and it was with difficulty the
men made their way up the cove. Pres
emily, however, they were near enough
10 make out that the light came from a
cabin. The cracks were plainly Visible
with cleaning shafts of light shining
through them into the darkae outside. I
Here. Rube, take my gun," whis-
pered Sampson, "while / slips I'D en- 4
sees ef the outlaws amt in thar"
Reuben did as hidden, while Sampson
crawled cautiously to the cabin and
peeped in. A bright fire cracked in
the old fireplace, and around it sat six
plsasant-faced young men. Jim studied
heir features for a time, but reco0-
aized none of them; and feeling sure that