Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-06-25
4 STUDY IN SCARLET.
PART TWO
1.-THE Country Of the Saints.]
CHAPTER V.
By A. CONAN DOYLE.

i CHAPTER v.
All night their course lay through
intricate dcfiles 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 tho track once more.
When morning broke, scene OF mar
velous 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 tho pine seemed to be sus-
pended over their heads and to need
only q gust Of wind to come hurting
down upon them. Nor was the fear en-
tirely an illusion, for the barren valley
was thickly strewn with trees and
bowlders which had fallen in similar
manner. Even as they passed great
rock came laundering down, with a
hoarse rattle which woke the echoes in
the silent gorgcs and startled the weary
horses into gallop
As the sun rose slowly above tho east
ern horizon tho caps Of the great noun.
tains lit up one after the other like
lamps at festival until they were all
ruddy and glowing. The magnificent
spectacle cheered the hearts of the three
fugitives and gave them fresh energy.
At wild torrent which swept out Of a
ravine they called halt and watered
their horses, while they partook OF a
hasty breakfast Lucy and her father
would fain have rested longer, but JEFF
ferson Hope was inexorable. They
will be upon our track by this time.
he said Everything depends upon our
speed Once safe in Carson, we may
rest for the remainder Of our lives "
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 the chill
wind. and there, huddled together for
warmth, they enjoyed q few hours
sleep Before daybreak. however, they
were up and on their way once more
They had seen no signs of any pursuers,
and jefferson Hope began 20 think they
were fairly out Of the reach Of the ter
rible organization whose enmity they
had incurred. He little knew how far
that iron grasp could rench, or how
soon it was to close upon them and
crush them.
About tho middle Of the second day
Of their flight their scanty store Of pro-
| visions began 10 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 rifle for the
needs Of life. Choosing q sheltered nook.
he piled together few dry branches
and made blazing fire at which his
companions might warm themselves,
for they were now nearly ., 900 feet
above the sea level and the air was Bit
ter and keen. Having tethered the
horses and babe Lucy adieu. he threw "
his gun over his shoulder and set ont IN
search Of whatever chance might throw
in his way. Looking back, he saw the
old man and the young girl crouchins
over the blazing fire, while the three an
imals stood motionless 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 bark OF the trees and other In
dications hu 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 despair when, casting his eyes up
ward. no saw sight which sent thrill
of pleasure through his heart On the
edge of jutting pinnacle 800 or 400
feet above him there stood creature
somewhat resembling a sheep in ap
pearance but armed with n pair OF
gigantic horns The bighorn-for so 1t
is called-was acting probably as
guardian over "a flock which were invis.
ible to the hunter, but fortunately 1t
was heading in the opposite direction
and had not perceived him. Lying on
his back, he rested his rifle upon rock
and took % 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 be
meath.
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 no 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 rayines which
were known to him, and it was no easy
matter to pick out the path which he
had taken The valley III which he
found himself divided and subdivided
into many gorges which were so like
each other that it was impossible to dis
tinguish one from the other. He follow.
cd one for a mile or more until he came
TO q mountain torrent which he was
sure that he had never seen before. Con-
yinced that no had taken the wrong
turn, he tried another, but with the
same result. Night was coming on rap
idly, and it was almost dark before he
at last found himself in defle which
was familiar to him. Even then it was
no easy matter to keep to the right track,
for the moon had not yet risen, and the
high cliffs on either side made the OBJ
scurity more profound. Weighed down
with his burden and weary from his ex-
ertions, he stumbled along. keeping up
his heart with 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.
BE 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 ii. They must, he reflected, be
awaiting him anxiously, for ne had
been absent nearly five hours. In the
| gladness of his heart he put his hands
to his mouth and made the glen re-echo
to loud halloo as a signal that he was
coming. Ho paused and listened for an