Evening star., 1896-08-22
Highest of all in Leavenng Powe-Latest u S. Govt Repot
R3>!a!!! g! Rs%asSE RRakiRS
ABSOLUTELY PURE
ABSOLUTELY PURE

before but at last I had reached the top.
1 felt that had arrived at the most criti-
cal stage Of my journey. I must mount
now, ana for anything I could tell my
mounting might be the signal for a volley
from the guns of my unseen enemies With
a long breath l drew myself together, and
sIauuaily-lnch by inch-raised myself to
my full height-still there was not a sound.
l. looked around me; did my best to peer
INTO the heavy shadow that lay like a nall
over over the scene. 1 could see but little. Be
n,. nrao me the irregular outline Of the ruin
ous , iort STOOD out against the soft purple
SKY; on either side vague, shadow forms
mockea my efforts to penetrate the dark
sbsde bsS, IN LII 'front.' mt the forest threw a darker
the heaven. With one last quick elance
around me 1 mounted the seat
away! The moment felt the accustom-
sIid,na Sluon nsa OF the saddle and the soft
Suihs Ihotlon OF the wheel / felt as IL
1 was myself again. Bending forward. that
might keep to the dim path, / threw INV
weight r"sRand on , the pedals and they seemed to
In another minute I could feel that we
were on the downward grade once more
Suentiy, but momentarily faster, / could
Ieel that the wheels were turning,
thoush In the clinging darkness L could
see nothing but the gray shadow of what
knew must be the path Darker and
darker yet. The shadows crouched low
ana an Dlack on either hand. as If preparing
70 spring out upon me as 1 passed. felt
Ihoush cannot say that i saw them as
l swept by. All. now / felt that / was
nearing the spot where the two roads join
eo. L ne clln was rising higher and higher
on the right hand, throwing a still blacker
ShauoW on the road, but / felt that /
knew IL now. and ii was with a feeling
OF triumph that bent forward and guild
ed the machine In its free sweep round
the wall OF rock and into the wider and
clearer road.
l could see more clearly now. The gray
shadow Of the road was more distinct and
i tha that
stretched their boughs over the road made
sort OF corduroy of shadows on the
track before me. But what was that in
front? Something that glowed with a soft
crimson halo In the darkness, and made
the end or the long vista down which /
was looking seem like a cavern: some
thing that sparkled and CLEANED. and
Mashed with an intermittent light as |
came nearer. 1t was the glow of an un-
seen fire For moment my heart grew
coid. Had l come SO far only to fail now?
i! I! thousht OF the last sight had caught Of
the wagons just before the shots were
hred. and I seemed to know that this was
the spot chosen for an outpost by the
enemy 1t was beyond the bend of the
ROAD, and as thought of 1t, the picture of
that bend seemed to rise before me as 1
had seen the place on the way up some
days before. l could remember that the
road swept round with bold curve and
1ell TO long, smooth descent like great
avenue between the trees. There was no
time 10 hesitate. Already, while these
thoughts were passing through my mind,
L was close to the spot. Already 1 could
fancy l saw the fire of the quick flashes
OF greater and lesser light that streaIned
out into the road by which / was silently
approaching. 1 even thought 1 could hear
strange voices, and catch the sound of
something like a laugh. 1t was now or
never. l gripped my revolver tightly in
my hand-I bent over my wheel-with my
lips pressed tight and my teeth clenched
/ shot round the bend and into the full
glare of the freight.