Rock Island Argus., 1896-06-25

sties were low, but tie rain hsa ALREADY
Bwelled the bed, md the cold current
rose to the girths and soon began to float
the names Of the horses 1t was % dark
that they could not see the opposite
bank and 80 lad to be guided wholly
by the frantic shouting and shooting be-
hind them. The instinct Of the horses
served them well The animalS though
forced to swim down 200 yards BY the
mad current, kept their nostrils pointed
to the opposite shore and went ON till
they stood dripping on the other bank.
Away from the camp!" replied Alice
in answer to her sisters question. "wc
know not . destination. We must only
think Of the place we ny from. Our des-
tination cannot be worse than our start
ing point The kind Providence that has
50 tar aided us must still be our reliance
and our guide
They had no fear of immediate pur-
suit, for they knew that the horses were
beyond the control Of the outlaws and
that it would be impossible for them to
get them together before daylight They
also knew that Bouton and his men
were, in the mountains as were Black
Eagle and his warriors, but recapturc
would not, could not, make their condi-
ton worse. The sisters kept their horses
close together-so close that they could
haXe talked had not their hearts been
to- full for utterance.
They rode from the time they left
the river at quick walk. The tenden-
cy Of the horses was to dash away, but
they submitted to the restraint Of the
bit. s
Eve may have to test their speed, +"
said Alice when starting off, so let us
reserve their strength. -
They could tell when they entered the
mountains by the movements Of their
horses. Indeed they reasoned that they
were ON a trail. Whether this trail led
to friend or foe they knew not-only
the future could tell. Just as the day
was breaking both horses came to a halt
, and no urging could force them on.
Let us dismount till the sun is up, ~
said Alice, and she set Clara an exam
pie by springing from her horse and tax
ing the bride on her arm. ra
/ They had not long to wait. They
could see the shadows rising from the
mountains and the darkness multiply in
the depths of the fearful gulf on whose
brink they stood. They were on the edge
of q chasm, or canyon" as it was
called in that land. 1t was one Of those
profound riffs peculiar to the mcun-
tains of western America. They had
brought their horses to a convenient
rock in order to get into the saddle
again, for they were weary and their
garments were heavy with moisture,
when both were startled by hearing the
tramping- of horses and the sound of
mems voices Nearer and nearer came
/ the riders-more and more distinct be.
came the pounding of the iron covered
hoofs on the flinty rocks.
"Alice! A1ice!'' cried Clara. "That is
fathers voice.
Fathers voiceP' echoed Alice, her
ears telling her that her sister was not
mistaken.
eyes, and Towards and the captain
and John Clyde's.'
Yes, yes; hear them" Then she
raised her voice and with eager JOY
shouted:
"Father! Father! Howard!'
My .daughterw came the impassion.
ed response
The pounding Of hoofs became quick.
er, and now they could hear the jingle
Of brides and the snorting Of the ap.
preaching horses. The girls caught sight
OF the riders, but the awful canyon
yawned between them.