A natural cavity, formed
by the juxtaposition of two huge rocks, overhung by a third, with some
few artificial additions, formed for them a cavern, in which--so
admirably was it overgrown by the surrounding forest, and so finely
situated among hills and abrupt ridges yielding few inducements for
travel--they found the most perfect security.
It is true such a shelter could not long have availed them as such, were
the adjacent country in the possession of a civilized people; but the
near neighborhood of the Cherokees, by keeping back civilization, was,
perhaps, quite as much as the position they had chosen, its protection
from the scrutiny of many, who had already, prompted by their excesses,
endeavored, on more than one occasion, to find them out. The place was
distant from the village of Chestatee about ten miles, or perhaps more.
No highway--no thoroughfare or public road passed in its neighborhood,
and it had been the policy of the outlaws to avoid the use of any
vehicle, the traces of which might be followed.
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