The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1906-04-12

my stirrup already.
flush, mani" he said again This
time there was no mistake about the
panic in his voice. They call this the
DEVILS Chapel. God send US safe BY
III II Is late 10 be here. Look at
thosel" he continued. pointing with
finger which visibF shook
! looked. At the mouth OF the gull
ly in a small space partly cleared Of
stones stood three broken shafts.
raised on rude pedestals "Wellg"
said in a low voice. The sun which
was near setting flushed the great
peak above to the color of blood. but
the valley was growing gray ant each
moment more dreary. well. what OF
those? l said. In spite OF my peril
and the excitement OF the coming
struggle felt the chill OF his fear.
Never had seen so grim, so desolate,
so God-forsaken a placel Involuntari-
ly | shivered.
They were crosses" he muttered,
in a voice little above a whisper. while
his eyes roved this way and that in
terror. The Cure de Gabas blessed
the place. and set them up. But next
morning they were as you see them
now. Come on, Monsieur. come on
he continued. plucking at my arm. 1T
Is not safe here after sunset. Pray
God, Satan be not at homel"
lie had completely forgotten in his
panic that he had anything TO fear
from me- His gun dropped loosely
across HIS saddle. his leg rubbed mine
saw this. and changed my plan OF
action. As our horses reached the
stones | stopped. as II to encourage
mine. and by sudden clutch snatched
the gun bodily from his hand: at the
same time | backed my horse with all
my strength. II was done In a mo-
mentl A second and had him at the
end OF the gun. and my finger was on
the trigger. Never was victory more
easily gained.
lie looked at me between rage and
terror. his jaw fallen. Are you mad?"
he cried. his teeth ehattering as he
spoke Even in this strait his eyes
left me and wandered round in alarm.
NO. ssnei" retorted herceiy.
But do not like this place any
better than you dol" Which was true
enough. II not quite true. so. BY your
right. quick march!" I continued i'm
peratively. Turn your horse. my
friend. or take the consequences"
He turned like a lamb and headed
down the valley again. without Civ
ing a thought 10 his pistols. kept
close 10 him and in less than a minute
we had left the DEVILS Chapel well
behind us and we're moving down again
as We had come up Only now held
the gun.
When we had gone half a mile or
so-until then did not feel comfort
able myself and though thanked
heaven the place existed. thanked heavl
en- also that I was out OF it'll babe
him halt. Take on your belti" said
eurtly. "and throw it down. But,
mark me. II you turn. ire,"
The spirit was quite gone out OF him.
He obeyed mechanically. jumped
down, still covering him with the gun
and picked Up the belt, pistols and
all, Then I remounted and We went on. :
By-and- bye he asked me sullenly what
was going TO do.
Go back" said. "and take the
road to Auch when come 10 IT,"
1T will be dark in an hour" he an
swered sulkily.
Il know that" retorted. I'VE must
camp and do the best We can"
And as I said, We did. The daylight
held until we gained the skirts Of the
pine-wood at the head of the pass.
Here / chose a corner a little on the
track and well-sheltered from the wind
and babe him light a fire. / tethered
the horses near this and within sight.
II remained only to sup. ! had
piece OF bread; he had another and
an onion. We ate in silence, sitting
on opposite sides Of the FIRE
But after supper / found myself in
a dilemma; / did not see how was 70
sleep. The rudy light which cleaned
on the knaves swart face and siuewy
hands showed also his eyes, black.
sullen and watchful. ! knew that the
man was plotting revenge; that he
would not hesitate to plant his knife
between my ribs should I give him
a chance. could find only one al
tentative to remaining awake. Had
I been bloody-minded should have
chosen It and solved the question at
once and in my favor by shooting him
as he sat
But | have never been a cruel man
and I could not find IL 10 my heart
to do this. The silence Of the noun
tain and the sky-whicb seemed a
thing apart from the roar Of the tor
rent and not TO be broken by it-awed
me. The vastness of the solitude in
which we sat, the dark void above
through which the stars kept shooting,
the black gulf below In which the UNI
seen waters boiled and surged. the
absence of other human company or
other signs OF human existence put
such a face upon the deed that gave