and felt the frail thing vibrate under
his weight.

"It is a bad place," remarked Oscar, as the bridge creaked and swung, and
Armitage laughed and jumped back to solid ground.

The surface of this harbor of the hills was rough with outcropping rock.
In some great stress of nature the trees had been destroyed utterly, and
only a scant growth of weeds and wild flowers remained. The place
suggested a battle-ground for the winds, where they might meet and
struggle in wild combat; or more practically, it was large enough for the
evolutions of a squadron of cavalry.

"Why the name?" asked Armitage.

"There were gray soldiers of many battles--yes?--who fought the long
fight against the blue soldiers in the Valley of Virginia; and after the
war was over some of them would not surrender--no; but they marched here,
and stayed a long time, and kept their last flag, and so the place was
called the Port of Missing Men. They built that stone wall over there
beyond the patch of cedars, and camped. And a few died, and their graves
are there by the cedars. Yes; they had brave hearts," and Oscar lifted
his hat as though he were saluting the lost legion.

They turned again to the road and went forward at a gallop, until, half a
mile from the gate, they came upon a clearing and a low, red-roofed
bungalow.

"Your house, sir," and Oscar swung himself down at the steps of a broad
veranda. He led the horses away to a barn beyond the house, while
Armitage surveyed the landscape. The bungalow stood on a rough knoll, and
was so placed as to afford a splendid view of a wide region. Armitage
traversed the long veranda, studying the landscape, and delighting in the
far-stretching pine-covered barricade of hills. He was aroused by Oscar,
who appeared carrying the suit-cases.

"There shall be breakfast," said the man.

He threw open the doors and they entered a wide, bare hall, with a
fireplace, into which Oscar dropped a match.

"All one floor--plenty of sleeping-rooms, sir--a place to eat here--a
kitchen beyond--a fair barracks for a common soldier; that is all."

"It is enough. Throw these bags into the nearest bedroom, if there is no
choice, and camp will be established."

"This is yours--the baggage that came by express is there. A wagon
goes with the place, and I brought the things up yesterday. There is a
shower-bath beyond the rear veranda. The mountain water is off the ice,
but--you will require hot water for shaving--is it not