The Press., 1895-03-28

and knew that they had passed the out lying post of the chosen people, and that freedom lay before them.
 CHAPTER V.
 All night their course lay through intricate defiles and over irregular and rock strewn paths. More than once they lost their way, but Hopes intimate knowledge of the mountains enabled them to regain the track once more. When morning broke, scene of mar. vicious though savage beauty lay before them. In every direction the great snow capped peaks hemmed them in, peep ing 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 to be sUs- pended over their heads and to need only gust of wind to come htiriing down upon them. Nor was the fear en- tirely an illusion, for the barren valley was thic1ly strewn with trees and powders which had fallen in similar manner. Even as they passed great rock camo laundering down, with 8 hoarse rattle which woke the echoes in the silent gorges and startled tho weary horses into a gallop.
 As the sun rose slowly above the east ern horizon the caps of the great moun- tains lit up One after the other like lamps at a festival until they were all ruddy and glowing. The magnificent spectacle cheered the hearts of the three fugitives and gave them fresh energy. At a wild torrent which swept out of a ravine they called a halt and watered their horses, while they partook of a hasty breakfast. Lucy and her father would fain have rested longer, but lief ferson Hope was incxorable, ''Tney will Do upon our track by this time, ; he said Everything depends upon our speed. Once safe ill Carson, we may rest for the remainder of our lives. y
 During the whole of that day they struggled on through the defiles, and by evening they calculated that they were more than 30 miles from their en- emies At nighttime they chose the base of beetling crag where the rocks offered some protection from tine chill wind, and there luddled together for warmth, they enjoyed a few hours sleep. Before daybreak, how ever, they were up and on their way once moro. They had seen no signs of any pursuers, and Jefferson Hope began to think they were fairly out of the reach of the ter l rible organization whose enmity they had incurred He little knew how far that iron grasp could reach, or how l soon it was to close upon them and crush them.
 About tie middle of the second day of their flight 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 be- fore had to depend upon his rife for the needs of life. Choosing sheltered nook, he piled together a few dry branches and made a blazing fire at which his companions might warm themselves, 1 for they were now nearly 5, 900 feet above the sea level and the air was bit ter and keen. Having tethered the horses and bade Lucy 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 and the young girl cro1ching over the blazing fire, while. the three an imals stood Inotionless in the back ground. Then the intervening rocks hid them from his view.
 He walked for couple of miles through one ravine after another, with out success, though from the marks upon the lark of the trees and other in- dications he judged that there were I Ia es4 1 after two or three hours ffuitless search, he was thinking of turning back in despair when, casting his eyes up. ward, he saw sight which sent q thrill of pleasure through his heart. On the edge of jutting pinnacle 300 pr 400 1 feet above him there stood 2 creature somewhat resembling sheep in ap- pearance, but armed with pair of gigantic horns. The bighorn-for so it is called-was acting probably as a guardian over a flock which were invis- ible to the hunter, but fortunately it was heading in the opposite direction and had not perceived him. Lying on his back, he rested his rife upon rock and took a long and steady aim before drawing the trigger. The animal sprang into the air, tottered for a moment upon the edge of the precipice and then came crashing down into the valley be- meath.
 The creature was too unwieldy to 1 lift, so the hunter coutented himself with cutting away one haunch ana part of the flank. With this trophy oyer his shoulder he hastened to retrace his steps, for the evening was already draw ing 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 valley in which he found himself divided and sub6iyided into many gorges which were So like each ether that it was impossible to dis tinguish one from the ot)ler. He follow ed one for mile or more until he came to mountain torrent which he was sure that he had never seen before. Con. 1 vinced that he had taken the wrong turn, he tried another, but with the same result. Night was comingjon rap= idly, and it was almost dark bdfore he ~- @751<Sseessss 4 1SSSzs.