Evening star., 1899-12-02

to find Miss Brandon, only to spring back
barely restraining a shout of terror. She
was gone
rhey have taken her" I gasped. a sud
den blank regret which l had no time to
dnaiyze sweeping over me Then, setting
my teeth. | plunged forward, and with two
strides found myself stepping off into space.
Inc Htteen or twenty minutes during which
] seemed to be steadily falling. gave me
the impression Of being infinite. But |
finally struck, fortunately for my earthly
career, in bed of snow. through which
rolled and gaSped. finally fetching up with
a painful thump against something so solid
that my airy. light-hcaded sensation of in
finite space was Immediately swallowed up
in acute physical pain.
"Oh. 50 you fell t0or' exclaimed some
one close beside me. How queer We
should both do it! Really now. ought
to be thankful: it might have been quite
unpleasant"
Might have been quite unpleasant"
And there | sat with every part of my
clothing filled with melting snow and my
head ringing. Really, if she had been Il
plain woInan-but here / belle myself. |
have quite reputation for courtesy, and
l think that | partially deserve it. for, after
coughing up much melted snow, | asked
her, in stranSled Voice. if she was in
jureG in any way.
Not the least bit in the world" she an
swered cheerfuliy. whipping at the back of
my collar with her handkerchief. My, but
you're fun of snow. though! Do you know,
it is funny; bu; / actually brought your
shawl the whole way down here with me!
You'd cetter put it on now, and warm up.
You may have strained yourself somehow,
but they say If you keep warm YOU won't
stiffen.'
That shawl again. 1t was TOO much,
Miss Brandon l cried, eXcitedly spring
ing II my feet; then | stopped abruptly
and, JaHlng her by the arm. drew her as
far back possible in the shelter of the
rock against which had grazed in my fall
Hush. hush. | whispered uSeleSsly, for
she mad made no attempt to speak. and
pointed upward l crOuched beside her.
Ior lights were beginning to dot the gloom
above Us in many places; hurrying lights,
held low and tearing h6adiong, lie 50
many burning eyeballs.
They have tracked US. l grOaned, for l
heard a shout. There is nothing for it;
must run again. But which way? This
Jhiue, seems to begin and end III snow"
ION. there's no great hurry said my
companion COOiIy, With a little nod which
l could see plainly as | gazed at her in
horror. Il shall get my breath first. and
besides there is some snow down my collar
which must be got out or / shall be in a
dreadful condition.
But Miss Brandon l protested sternly,
they are close upon US. They"
She gave Il gOOd-ndtured little laugh.
Could scarcely believe il, but she did.
How funny men are.' she said pleasantly
working at her collar. with success | knew,
for bits Of snow hew into my horror-strick-
en- face as l leaned over her. Why, don't
you see that the fun of il is they must
take their time about getting here They
won't dare just walk up and fal. down
as we did: it wouldn't do, you knowi one
might hit wrong. You came pretty near it"
1t was perfectly true, but it made me
seem painfully stupid to have to take such
plain sense second hand and from a young
girl at that. We could not get out, that
was clear enough. 1t was equally clear
when l considered it. that they could not
get down to Us without returning to the
house for ropes or ladders for no sane
IA - . a IfPh 1ag N
in that pitChy darkness.
On. for some outlet. | was teeming with
inspirations. but. alas. they were incased
in clumsy flesh, A sudden bright flame
from the freshest of them brought me to
my feet. where pair OF sordid heels blew
out the illumination and down l came upon
my back with the end of my tongue we'll
nigh bitten through from the shock
'Oh, do be careful walled Miss Brandon
.ragging at my shoulders TO sit me up
right, while | muttered something beneath
my breath which / shall not record. An
other shout reached uS-a fierce, excited
shout. Had they found the spot where L
mad performed my clumsy execution of the
dog? If so, murder or suicide must be their
inevitable conclusion. and they would be
hot after the survivor. There must be no
! longer delay. Breath or no breath, We must
do something before 1t was too late. Come
Miss Brandon | said firmly. and taking
her by the arm. l lifted her to her feet,
only for US both to lose our balance to-
gethcr and go skating away upon a new
! found Icy incline.
| 1t was clear TO me now where we were.
| We Were adrift upon the frozen bed of one
| of those mountain streams about whose
| summer music my sister had discoursed in
| her letters home. l remembered we'll how
/ she had made them leap from rock to
| rock hide themselves in granite caverns,
and then burst forth again. all fierce and
| tortured from their brief restraint" all of
| which had sounded well in the letters but
| when it came to sliding down this iCe-clad
| winding idyl, with delicate young lady
| for your companion, a band Of desperadoes