Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1894-09-06
CHAPTER. Iv-(CoEunued.)

THAT will DO. j have as much more
TO d to IL. We must push for Carson
city through the mountains. YOu had
best wake Lucy. 1t Is as well that the
servants do not sleep in the house"
While Ferrier was absent, preparing
his daughter for the approaching Jour
ney, Jefferson Hope packed all the
eatableS that he could find into n small
larc'l, AID filed a stoneware jug with
water, for he knew ny experience that
the mountain wells were few and far
between. He had hardly completed
his arrangements before the farmer re-
turned with his daughter, all dressed
II ready for a start. The greeting
between the lovers vas warm, but
brief, for minutes We're precious, and
there was much TO be done.
I'VE must make our start at once"
said Jefferson Hope, speaking in n low
but resolute voice, like one who real
ICES the greatness Of the peril, but has
steeled his heart to meet il. The
frCnt and back entrances are watched,
but with caution we may get away
through the side window and cross
the fields. Once on the road, we are
only two miles from the ravine where
hAAS = waning. ~ H. VAN
we should be halfway through the
mountains"
What if We are stopped?" asked Fer
| rier.
Hope slapped the revolver butt which
protruded from the front Of his tunic.
IF they are too many for us, we shall
take two or three of them with u.s."
he said, with q sinister smile.
M, l-l... s~-kl a. l..zA III III
been eXtinguishcd, and from the dark
ened window Terrier peered W. the
hills which had been his own, and WI ich
he was now about to abandon forever.
He had long nerved himself To the sac
rifice, however, and the thought of the
honor and happiness Of his daughter
outweighing any regret at his ruined
fortunes. All looked SO peaceful and
happy, the rustling trees and the broad,
silent stretch of grain land, that it
was difficult to realize that the spirit of
murder lurked through it all. Yet the
white face and set expression Of the
young hunter showed hat in his ap-
Droach to the house he had seer enough
to satisfy him upon that head.
Ferrier carried the bag Of gold and
notes, Jefferson Hope had the scanty
provisions and water, while Lucy had
a small bundle containing a few of her
more valued possessions. Opening the
window very slowly and carefully they
waited until q dark cloud had some
what obscured the night and then one
by one passed through into the little
garden. With bated breath and crouch
ing figures they stumbled across it and
gained the shelter OF he hedge, which
they skirted until they came to the gap
which opened into the cornfield. They
had Just reached this point when the
young man seized his two companions
and dragged them down into the
! shadow, where they lay silent and
trembling.
1t was as well that his prairie train
ing had given jefferson Hope the
ears Of a lynx. He and bis friends
had hardly crouched down before the
melancholy hooting Of a mountain owl
was heard within a few yards Of them,
which was Immediately answered by
another boot at a small distance. At
the same moment a vague, shadowy
figure emerged from the gap for which
they had been making. and uttered the
plaintive signal cry again, on which a
second man appeared out of h obscur-
ity.
Tomorrow at midnight" said the
first, who appeared to be in authority.
when the whippOor-win calls three
times"
1T is weIl," returned the other.
"Shalr l tell Brother Drebber?'
Pass it ON to him, and from him
to the others. Nine to seven!"
Seven to five!" repeated the other,
and the two figures fitted away in
different directions. Their concluding
words had evidently been some form
of sign and countersigl. The instant
that their footsteps had died away in
the distance jefferson Hope sprang to
his feet, ard helping his companions
across the gap, led the way across the
fields at full speed, supporting and half
carrying the girl when her strength
appeared to fail her.
Hurry on-hurry on!" he gasped
from time to time. I'VE are through
the line Of sentinels. Everything de-
ponds on speed. Hurry on!"
Once on the high-road they made
rapid progress. Only once did they
meet any one, and then they managed
to slip into q field, and so avoid recog-
milton. Before reaching the town the
hunter branched away into a rugged
and narrow footpath which led to the
mountains. Two dark, jagged peaks
doomed above them through the dark
ness, and the defile which led between
them was the Eagle canon, in which
the horses were awaiting them. With
unerring instinct jefferson Hope picked
his way among the great boulders and
along the bed of a dried up water
course, until he came to the retired
corner, screened with rocks, where the
faithful animals had been picketed.
The girl was placed upon the mule,
and cid Terrier upon n of the horses,
with his ~money-bng, while Jefferson
Hope led the other along the precipi-
tous and dangerous path.
1t was q b~ewildering route Tor any
one who was not accustomed to face
nature in her widest moods. On the
enc side a great crag lowered a o
send feet or mOre-black. stern and
meBacing-with long basaltic columns
upon bis rugged surface, like the ribs
of some petrified monster. On the 9th
er hand, q wild chaos Of powders and
debris made all advance impossible.
Between the two raj he irregular
track, so narrow in places that they
had TO travel In Indian file, and so
al