The Press., 1892-11-10

same mysterious, deserted air, as if the sad pair who dwelt in it had desperately wandered away into the desert by night.
 Brent would not turn. He kept his haggard face bent eastward toward the horizon, where an angry sunrise began to thrust out the quiet hues of dawn.
 followed the train, doggedly refus- ing to think more of those desolate friends we were leaving. Their helpless fate made all the beauty of the scene only crueler bitterness. What right had dawn to tinge with sweetest violet and with hopeful rose the shelters of that camp of delusion and folly!
 We rode steadily on through the cool haze, and then through the warm, sun ny haze of that October morning. Brent hardly uttered word. He left me the whole task of driving our horses. A difficult task this morning. Their rest and feast of yesterday had put Pumps and Fulano in high spirits. l had my hands full to keep them in the track.
 We had ridden some eighteen miles when Brent fell back out of the dust of our march and beckoned me.
 ''Dick," said he, ''I have had enough of this"
 He grew more like himself as he spoke.
 "I was crushed and cowardly, last night and this morning." he continued. .sFor the first time in my life my hope and judgment fail me together. You must despise me for giving up and quit ting Miss Chtheroe."
 "My dear boy" said l, i've were part ners in our despair"
 '.Mine is gone. I have made up my mind. I will not leave her. Twill ride on with you to the South pass. That will give the caravan start, so that l can follow unobserved. Then will fol- low, and let her know in some way that she has a friend within call. She must be saved sooner or later whether she will or no. Love or no love, such a woman shall not be left to will herself dead, rather than to fall into the hands of beast like Sizzum. have no mis- sion, you know," and he smiled drearily. ''I make one now. I cannot fight the good fight against villainy and brutish- ness anywhere better than here. When l get into the valley will camp down at Jakes. can keep my courage up hunting grizzlies until she wants me. Perhaps may find Biddulph there still. What do you say, old fellow? I am bound to you for the journey. Will you forgive me for leaving you?'
 "You will find it hard work to leave 7 me. go with you and stand by you in this cause, life or death"
 "My dear friend! my brother!" We took hands on this. Our close friendship passed into com. pleted brotherhood. Doubts and scruples , vanished. We gave ourselves to our knight errantry.
 "We will save her, John," said 1. ''She is my sister from this moment"
 His face lighted up with the beauty o1 his boyish days. He strengthened him. ' self in his saddle, gave his fair mustache twirl, and hummed, for gayety of heart, ''Ah non giunge!' to the beat oi his mustangs hoofs.
 We were riding at the bottom of lit tie hollow. The dusty trail across the unfenced wilderness, worn smooth and broad as turnpike by the march oi myriad caravans, climbed up the slopes before and behind us, like the wake of g ship between surges. The mail train had disappeared over the ridge. Oul horses had gone with it. Brent and , , were alone, as 1.-the world held no other tenants.
 Suddenly we heard the rush of horse man after us.
 Before we could turn he was down the hillock-he was at our side.
 He pulled his horse hard upon his launches and glared at us. A fierce lool it was; yet bewildered look. as of ont suddenly cheated of a revenge he hat laid finger on.
 He glared at us, we gazed at him, al instant, without word.
 A ghastly pair-this apparition-hors' and man! The horse was tall, gaunt white. There were the deep hollows O age over his bloodshot eyes. His out stretched head showed that he shared his masters eagerness of pursuit. Deati would have chosen such 8 steed for { gallop on one of deaths errands.
 Death would have commissioned sucl a rider to bear a sentence of death. A tall, gaunt man, with the loose, long frame of pioneer, but the brown vigo1 of a pioneer was gone from him. Hi face was lean and bloodless. It wa clear where some of his blood had found issue. A strip of old white blanket soiled with dust and blood, was turbanet