The light grew as the sun rose higher, blazing upon them like a brazen target through deep clefts in the mountains.

The morning mists retreated before them to farther ridges and peaks, and the beautiful gray-blue of the Virginia hills delighted Armitage's eyes.

The region was very wild.

Here and there from some mountaineer's cabin a light penciling of smoke stole upward.

They once passed a boy driving a yoke of steers.