Mexico weekly ledger., 1894-02-22

out I6So3Gte VOICE. Ike ono VIM
realizes the greatness of the peril, but
has steeIed his heart to meet it. ''The
from and back entrances are watched,
but with caution We may get away
through the side window AMI across
the fields. Once ON the road, we are
| only two miles from the ravine where
the horsesare waiting. BY daybreak
we should be half way through the
mountains"
"what if we are stopped?" asked
Terrier.
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 US" he
said with a sinister smile.
The lights inside the house had all
| been extinguished, and from the dark
ened window Terrier peered over the
fields which had been his own. and
which he was now about to aban-
don forever. He had long nerved him
self to the sacrifice, however, and the
thought of the honor and happiness
| of his daughter outweighed 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 that in his approach to the
house he had seen enough to satisfy
him upon that head
Terrier carried the bag of gold and
notes, jefferson Hope had the scanty
provisions and water, while Lucy had
the small bundle containing a few of
her more valued possessions. Opening
the window very slowly and carefully,
they waited until a dark cloud had
somewhat obscured the night, and
then n by one passed through into
the little garden. With bated breath
and cronehing figures they stumbled
across it and gained the shelter of the
hedge, which they skirted until they
came to the gap which opened into the
cori.field. 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
| Aub ltdh gwen bSIiStSoh IlopS GiiC Ga1S
of a lynx. He and his friends had
hardly crouched down before the me1
ancholy 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 frcm the gap for which
they had been making. and uttered the
plaintiye signal cry again, On which a
second mar appeared ont of the OBJ
security.
Tomorrow at midnight" said the
first, who appeared to be in authority.
"When the whippoorwill calls three
times"
st is we'll" returned the other.
"Shall I tell Brother Drebber?'
pass it on to him, and from him to
the others. Nine to seven!!"
Seven to fve.' repeated the other,
and the two figures fitted away in
different directions. Their concluding
words had evidently been some form OF
sign and countersign. The instant
that their footsteps had died away in
the distance, Jefferson Hope sprang to
his feet, and, helping his companions
through 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. 1--WE are through
the line of sentinels. Everything de
ponds on speed. Hurry on!"
Once on the high-road they made
rapiJ nBor.aSS 0pIr oman 5iI {Iav
meet anyone, and then they managed tc
slip into a field and so avoid recogni
ton. Before reaching the town thu
hunter branched away into a rugged
and narrow footpath which led to the
mountains. Two dark, jagged peak!
doomed above them through the dark
ness, and the defile which led between
them was the Eagle canyon in which
the horses were awaiting them. With
unerring instinct Jefferson Hope
| picked his way among the grea-
powders and along the bed of a dried
up w~ater-course, until he came to the
retired corner, screened with rocks
where the faithful animals had beer
picketed. The girl was placed upor
the mule. and old Ferrier upon one Oh
the horses, with his ~money-bag, Will,
Jefferson Hope led the other along tn,
precipitous and dangerous paths.
;. It was n bewildering route for any
n who was not accustomed to face
Nature in her widest moods. On TIL
n side a great crag lowered up &
thousand feet or more, black. stern and
menacing, with long basaltic column.
upon its rugged surface like the rib
of some petrifed monster. On tn,
other hand a wild chaos of powders
and debris made all advance impossi
bic. Between the two ran the irregu
lar track, so narrow in places tina
they had to travel in Indian file, and 81
rough that only practiced riders coult
have traversed it at all. Yet. in spit,
of all dangers and difficulties. the heart.
of the fugitives were light within them
, for every step increased the distanc,
between them and the terrible despot
ism from which they YER flying.
, They sool had a proof, however
that they. were still in the jnrisdict;o,
, of the Saints. They had reached tn,
very widest and most desolate portion
of the pass when the girl CAV
startled cry and pointed upward. On
. 81 ipth WHICH VLtI1tpAcu INC Track
showing out dark and plain agains
the Sky. there stood a solitary sentinel
He saw them as soon as they perceived
, him, and his military challenge o
, "Who goes there?" rang through tn,
silent ravine.
Travellers for Nevada" said JEFF
, ferson Hope, with his hand upon tn,
, rifle which hung by his saddle.
They could see the lonely watche
lingering his gum, and peering dow
at them as if dissatisfied with their re
, ply.
! "By whose permission?' he asked.
! 1.-The Holy Four" answered Terrier
, His Mormon experiences had laugh
him that that vas the highest authorit,
to which he could refer.
Nine from seven,' cried the senti
mel.
Seven from. fye," returned Jeffer
son Hope promptly, remembering IL,
countersign which he had heard in tn,
garden
Pass. and the Lord go with you,
: said the voice from above. Beysons
" this post the path broadened out, an,
, the horses were able to break into
y -