The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1894-08-30
CHAPTER v.

mate knowledge of the mountains en-
abled them to travel uninterruptedly
till daylight When morning broke a
scene of marvellous though savage
beauty lay before them. In every di-
rection the great Snow-capped peaks
hemmed them in, peeping over each
others shoulders to the far horizon.
So steep were the rocky banks on either
side of them that the larch and the
pine seemed suspended over their
heads, and to need only a gust of wind
to come hurtling down upon them.
Nor was the fear only an Illusion, for
the barren valley was thickly strewn
with trees and boulders which had fell
en- in similar manner. Even as they
passed, great rock came laundering
down with hoarse rattle which woke
the echoes in the silent gorges, and
startled the weary horses into gal
lop.
AS the sun rose slowly above the
eastern horizon, the caps Of the great
mountains lit up one after the other,
like lamps at festival, until they were
all ruddy and glowing. The magnif-
cent spectacle cheered the hearts of the
three fugitives and gave them fresh
energy. At a wild torrent which swept
out of a ravine they watered their
horses, while Lucy partook of hasty
breakfast. Lucy and her father would
have rested longer, but Jefferson Hope,
was memorable. They will be upon
our track by this tlme," he said 'Ev-
erything depends upon our speed. Once
safe in Carson, we may rest the re-
mainder of our lives"
During the whole of that day they
struggled on through the defiles, and
by evening they calculated that they
were more than thirty miles from their
enemies. At night time they chose the
base of a beetling craw, where the
rocks offered some protection from the
chill wind; and there, huddled together
for warmth, they enjoyed few hours
sleep. Before daybreak, however, they
were up and on their way once more.
They had seen no signs of any pur-
suers, and Jefferson Hope began to
think they were fairly out of the reach
of the terrible organization whose en-
nifty they had incurred. He little
knew how far that iron. CRISP could
reach, or how it was to close upon
them and crush them.
About the middle of the second day
visions began to run out This gave
the hunter little uneasiness, however,
for there was game to be had among
the mountains, and he had frequently
before had to depend upon his rife for
the needs of life. Choosing sheltered
nook, he piled together few dry
branches and made a fire,
at which his companions might
warm themselves for they were now
nearly 5000 feet above the sea level,
and tho air was bitter and keen. Hay-
ing tethered the horses and babe Lucy
adieu, he threw his gun over his shout.
der and set out in search Of whatever
chance might throw in his way. Look
ing back, he saw the old man and the
young girl crouching over the blazing
fire, while the three animals stood mo-
tionless In the background. Then the
intervening rocks hid them from his
view.
He walked for a couple of miles
through one ravine, after another with
out success, though from the marks
upon the bark of the trees and other
indications, he judged that there were
numerous bears in the vicinity. AT
last, after two or three hours useless
search, he was thinking Of turning
back in despair, when casting his eyes
upward, he saw a sight which sent a
thrill of pleasure through his heart
On the edge Of a jutting pinnacle, three
or four hundred. feet above him, there
stood a creature somewhat resembling
a sheep in appearance, but armed with
a gigantic pair of horns. The big-horn
for so it is called-was acting, proba:
bly,, as o guardian over a flock which
was invisible to the hunter; but, for.
tunately, it was heading in the oppo.
site direction, and had not perceived
him. Lying on his back, he rested his
rifle upon a rock, and took long and
steady aim before drawing the trigger
The animal sprang into the air. totter.
ed moment upon the edge of the pre-.
cipice, and then came crashing down
into the valley beneath.
The creature was too unwieldly to
lift so the hunter contented himself
with cutting away one haunch and part
of the flank. With this trophy over
his shoulder, he fastened to retrace his
stems for the evening was already
drawing in He had hardly started
however, before he realized the difficult
ty which faced him. In his eagerness
he had wandered far past the ravines
which were known to him, and it was
no easy matter to pick out the patti
which he had taken. The valley II
which he found himself divided an(
subdivided into many gorges, which
were so like each other that it wa.
impossible to distinguish one from thu
other. He followed one for mile o.
more until he came to Q mountain
torrent, which he was sure that he new
er seen before. Convinced that he ha(
taken a wrong turn, he tried another
but with the same result. Night wa!
coming on rapidly, and 1t was almos
dark before he at last found himself
| in aefiie which was familiar to him
Even then it was no easy matter fol
him to keep to the right track, for thu
| moon had not yet risen, and the higl
cliffs on either side made the obscurity
more profound. Weighed down witt
| his burden, and weary from his exer
| tons, he stumbled along, keeping vi
| his heart with the reflection that ever!
step brought him nearer to Lucy, anl
| that ile carried with him enough t.
insure them food for the remainder O
| their journey.
| He had now come to the mouth o.
the very defiles in which he had lef
| them. Even in the darkness he coult
recognize the outline of the cliffs which
bounded it. They must, he reflected
be awaiting him anxiously, for he hat
| been absent nearly FIVE hours. In thu
gladness Of his heart he put his hant
| to his mouth and made the glen re
echo to loud halloo IS signal tina
he was coming. He paused and listen
ed for an answer. None came save hi
own cry, which clattered up the drear.
silent ravine, and was borne back t.
his ears in countless repititions. Agar
he shouted even louder than before
and again no whisper came back from
| the friends whom he had left such
short time ago. 4 vague nameles
dread came over HIM, as he hurried on
ward frantically, dropping the preciou
food In his agitation
When he turned the corner he cam
full in sight Of the spot where the fir
had been lit. There was still glowin
| pile of wood ashes tended since his de
| parture. The same dead silence stil
/ rnipnnd all round With his fears al