" Armitage
stepped upon the loose planking 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.
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