Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-06-18
NUMBER 25.

feet. and helping his companions
through the gap led the way across the
fields nc full speed, supporting and half
carrying the girl when her strength ap.
peared TO fail her
Hurry on, hurry on" he gasped
from time to time. 1--WE are through
the line Of sentinels Everything de-
pends on speed. Hurry on. Z"
Once on the high road, they made
rapid progress Only once did they meet
any one, and then they managed to slip
into field and so avoid recognition.
Before reaching the town the hunter
branched away into rugged and mar
row footpath which led into the noun
tains Two dark, jagged peaks loomed
above them through the darkness, 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 great bowlders and along
the bed Of dried up water course until
he came 20 the retired corner. screened
with rocks, where the faithful animals
had been picketed The girl was placed
upon the Sule. and old Ferrier upon
one Of the horses, with his money bag,
while Jefferson Hope led the other along
the PERCEPTIONS and dangerous paths
It was bewildering route for any
one who was not accustomed 20 face
nature in her widest moods On the
one side great crag lowered up 1000
feet or more, black. stern and menao-
ing, with long basaltic columns upon
his rugged surface like the ribs Of some
petrified monster. On the other hand
a wild chaos Of powders an debris
made all advance impossible. Between
the two and the irregular track. so mar
row in places that they had to travel
in Indian file and so rough that only
practiced riders could have traversed IL
at all. Yet in spite OF all dangers and
difficulties the hearts Of the fugitiyes
were light within them, for every step
increased the distance between them
and the terrible despotism from which
they were flying.
They soon had proof. however, that
they We're still within the jurisdiction
Of the saints. They had reached the
very widest and most desolate portion
Of the pass when the girl gave startled
cry and pointed upward. On rock
which overlooked the track, showing
out dark and plain against the skI,
there stood solitary sentinel He saw
them as soon as they perceived him,
and his military challenge Of WHO
goes there" rang through the silent ra-
vine.
Travellers for Nevada, said Jeffer.
son Hope, with his hand upon the rife
which hung by his saddle
They could see the lonely watcher
lingering his gun and peering down at
them az II dissatisfied at their reply.
by whose permission?" he asked.
Tho holy four" answered Ferrier.
His Mormon experiences had taught
him that that was the highest authori-
ty to which ne could refer
Nine from seven, cried the senti.
mel
Seven from five. returned Jefferson
Hope promptly, remembering the conn
tersign which he had heard III the gar
den.
Pass, and the Lord go with you,
said the voice from above. Beyond
this post the path broadened out, and
the horses were able TO break into q
trot. Looking back, hey could SEQ tho
solitary watcher leaning upon his gun
and knew that they had passed the out
lying post Of the chosen people, and
that freedom lay before them.