Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1894-09-06
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The Avengfng Angel.

AL ulSutI uelT SOurSe lay through H.
, tricate detiles and over irregular and
rock-strewn paths. More than once
they lost their way, but Hopes init
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 d.
reCt'on the great s~now-capped peaks
hemDed 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 a similar n Even as they
passed, q great rock came laundering
down with a hoarse rattle which woke
the echoes In the silent gorges, and
startled the weary horses into a gal
lOp.
As the sun rose slowly above the
eastern horizon, the caps of the great
mountains lit up n after the other,
like lamps at a festival, until they were
all rudy and glowing. The magnifi-
cent spectacle cheered the hearts of the
three fugitives and gave them fresh
energy. At a wild torrent which swept
out Of a rayine they watered their
horses, while Lucy partook Of n hasty
breakfast. Lucy and her father would
have rested longer, but Jefferson Hope,
was memorable. They will be upon
our track by this ume,' he said. "Ev-
! erything depends upOL 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 defi,1s, and
by evening they calculated that they
were more than thirty miles FROM their
enemies. At night time they chose the
| base of q beetling craw, where the
rocks offered some protection from the
chill wind; and there, huddled together
for warmth, they enjoyed a few hours
| sleep. Before dayDreak, 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, OF how il was to close upon
them and crush them.
About the middle OF the second day
| of their fight their scanty store of pro-
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 a sheltered
nook, he piled together a few dry
branches and made q fire,
at which his companions might
warm themselves for they were now
nearly 5000 feet above the q level,
and tho air was bitter and keen. Hav-
ing tethered the horses and babe Lucy
| adieu. he threw his gun over his shoul.
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 giIl 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, thr1s
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 II is called-was acting, probi-
bly,, as a guardian over a flock which
was invisible to the hunter; but. for
tunately. II 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 IA long and
| steady aim before drawing the trigger.
The animal sprang into the air. totter-
cd a moment upon the edge Of the pre-
cipice. and then came crashing down
into the valley beneath.