But one evening, away north in Stafford county, I cast my eyes to the west, and saw, blue and sharp against the sunset, a great line of mountains.

It was all I sought.

Somewhere in the west Virginia had her high lands, and one day, I promised myself, I would ride the road of the sun and find their secret.
In these months my thoughts were chiefly of trade, and I saw enough to prove the truth of what the man Frew had told me.

This richest land on earth was held prisoner in the bonds of a foolish tyranny.

The rich were less rich than their estates warranted, and the poor were ground down by bitter poverty.