noon
Seth Jones was the guide for one , which went to the northeast , through the Bull Head Mountain region , whither , in all likelihood , the outlaw would make his way , if he meant to escape out of the country . The marshal , with one companion , skirted Stone Mountain . Uncle Dick led two of the posse to the yellow poplar where the struggle had occurred , after which they would follow the general direction of the tracks . The marshal expected to make a circuit of the mountain rapidly enough to effect a junction with Uncle Dick 's party by noon , at the Woodruff Gate . The veteran and his two men , who would have by far the roughest going , were not to report until sundown at the Siddon cabin . From the poplar , Uncle Dick and the deputies were able , with great difficulty , to follow the tracks of the outlaw and his prisoner toward the south for a full mile . But at this point , an expanse of outcropping rock baffled them completely .