The Globe-republican., 1894-06-22

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HE SAW THE Old NAN AND THE YOUNG
GIEL CROUCHING OVER TIE BLAZING
FIRE
adieu. he threw his gun over his
shoulder and set out in search of
whatever chance might throw in his
way. Looking back. he saw the old
man aud the young girl crouching over
the blazing fire. while the three ami
mails stood motionless in the back
ground. 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 trees, and other indications.
he judged that there were numerous
bears in the vicinity. At last, after
two or three hours fruitless search. he
was thinking of turning back in de-
spair, when, casting his eyes up
ward. 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 re-
sembling a sheep in appearance, but
armed with pair of gigantic horns.
The big-horn. for so it is called-was
acting. probably, as a guardian over a
flock which were invisible to the hun
ter: but fortunately it was heading in
the opposite direction. and had not per-
ceived him. Lying on his back. he
rested his rifle upon rock. and took a
long and steady aim before drawing
the trigger. The animal sprang into
the air, tottered for moment upon
the edge of the precipice. and then
came crashing down into the valley
beneath.
The creature was too unwieldy 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 re-
trace his steps. for the evening was al
ready drawing in. He had hardly
started. however, before he realized
the difficulty 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 path which he had taken. The val
ley in which he found himself divided
and subdivided into many gorges.
which were SO like each other that it
was impossible to distinguish one from
the other He followed one for a mile
or more until he came to a mountain
torrent which he was sure that he had
never seen before. Convinced that he
had taken the wrong turn. he tried
another, but with the same result
Night was coming on rapidly. and it
was almost dark before he again found
himself in defile which was familiar
to him Even then it was no easy mat
ter to keep on the right track, for the
moon had not yet risen. and the high
cliffs on either side made the obscurity
more profound. Weighed down with
his burden and weary from his exer-
tions, he stumbled along, keeping up
his heart by the reflection that every
step brought him nearer to Lucy, and
that he carried with him enough to in
sure them food for the remainder Of
their journey.
He had now come to the mouth of
the very defile in which he had left
them. Even in the darkness he could
recognize the outlines of the cliffs
which bounded it They must, he re-
dected, be awaiting him anxiously, for
he had been absent nearly five hours
In the gladness of his heart he put his
hands to his mouth and made the glen
reecho to . loud halo Is . signal that
he was coming. He paused and listened
for an answer. None came save his
own cry, which clattered up the dreary,
silent ravines, and was borne back to
his ears in countless repetitions. Again
he shouted. even louder than before,
and again no whisper came back from
the friends whom he had left such .
short time ago A vague. nameless
dread came over him, and he hurried
onward fr.ntically, dropping the pre-
cious food in his agitation
When he turned the corner. he came
full In sight Of the spot where the fire
had been lit There was still . glow
ing pile Of wood-ashes there. but Il had