The Hickman courier., 1882-10-20

'sNo, no. We must let him suspect us, or it
is all up. When we come to cool place we
will propose stopping to eat something. One
of US must keep near him all the time Or,
better still, YOU must get faint and insist on
taking his arm. You must never let il 60 As
long as he is with us we are safe, for | scarce
ly expect his wish for revenge is strong
enough to let him risk his own safety.'
II believe he means to thoroughly tire us
out before he does anything, and hat won't
take long, so far as l am concerned; my legs
are beginning to give way, and he is going on
as fresh as paint Let's bring matters to a
ssHi, walter,n shouted Hardy; "we're get
ting hungry. Wen stop here and have some
bread and cheese"
80 There is a much better place little fur
ther on" replied the guide, 4" where there is
'Fshall we go on." whispered Hardy to Lin
ton. . Be as careless as you cam
+" AS YOU like; il there is a spring it Will be
blessing"
g All right; let's go on if it isn't far, = said
Harry aloud. But my friend is used up; you
must give him your arm, and I'll take that
knapsacS, If you like
Linton moved forward to take his arm
Hardy had already taken hold of the knapsack
so quickly that the guide had no time to move
away, even IL he had wished. He made no
objection to the proposal, and Linton put his
arm through his, Hardy keeping close in the
rear. They could still talk TO each other for
they knew that Walter did not understand
English
In this manner they plodded wearily on for
another mile, no slight distance when the
path is over rocks and loose stones. The scene
was most impressive one; but at present its
exceeding desOlation was the characteristic
which the two friends felt most strongly. Not
a house was in sight, and scarcely tree;
nothing but the rocks and earth. Below there
lay Deep dark valley, with a rushing torren'
which now looked mere white thread; above
them black rocks capped with everlasting
SHOWS. For all that they could tell theirs were
the first human footsteps that had ever fallen
/ in this desolate spot.
Walter had spoken truth. There was a
spring ahead of them and the sight of it re
| lieved their spirits. They took 1t in turns to
| drink, one filing his cup while the other
| mounted guard over the guide. The la ter
seemed to be conscious by this time that he
was the object of suspicion; but his action
aud look did not alter. He ate his crust and
drank the water without making any attempt
/ TO move away from them and Hardy half
! began % hope that he had been wronging him.
At any rate he determined TO make one more
attempt at coneiliation.
| "What time shall we reach Werhausen,
Wal erlf he asked
II shall get there about six,'' he replied.
! Allowing how long for restf" asked Hardy,
| purposely taking no notice OF his using the
| word 81
You can rest as long as you like, " was the
answer, hu | am going on
''What do you meanl We've hired you as
our guide, and you'll have to stop or go on, as
II am no, your guide l would not take
| money from YOU il l were starving. / only
brought YOU here to take you away from Nina
! 1t viii be a long time before you find your
way back there again, my ine young gentle
men,"
This was declaration of war, and all felt it
! TO be so. Walter rose and faced hem, stand
/ ing about two PAGES of Hardy looked straight
at hm and said ~De you mean that you have
! brought us out OF our way because of some
| harmless flirting with Ninal'
/ - Yes, shouted Walter, losing all command
! of himself, and mating his voice echo down
1 the mountain, ''yes, YOU would come with
YOUR full purse and your smiling face TO turn
| her, and live from week 10 week on the chance
I OF seeing her. You give her hue presents,
which she wears and she tells me with an in
| nOcent smile that she does not know where
aud ten minutes atterward ] lind him at the
| cottage and wanting to kiss her. She little
/ thinks I saw him kiss her this morning when
/ he sent me in TO fetch his alpenstock. But now
/ II is my turn; yOu are in nv power"
! Hardy stepped forward to seize him, but he
sire ched out his hand
= Didyour hear thatl' he asked Look
down the valley"
| ain TO mountain, and instinctiyely the two
| friends looked down in the dark valley below
/ them. At the same moment, with a mOcking
\ laugh, Walter sprang down the rock. His ruse
had succeeded, and they were alone on the
mountain.
/ Bat h ; triumph was short one. Exasper-
/ ated beyond measure at the trick, and des
perate at the STATE of affairs, Hardy seized a
\ stone as large as his two lists and threw II
after the retreating guide. lie wls good
/ cricketer and his missile sped truly, hittin z
] Walter on the left shoulder. With a cry he
| fell forward, rolling over several times before
! he stopped The two friends leaped wildly
down the mountain in pursuit., reaching him
>lSa-rWaS still on the ground. Linton