The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1907-01-17

"
through a wood OF scattered pines, the
moon came psering out from behind two
bare and lofty peaks that lowered above
u into the southern night. lighting their
icy submits 10 that they slittersd like
blades OF polished steel. 1t was = scene
Of such melancholy desolstion that a. our
horsss halted On the crest OF the hill l
lowered the window. shrusting out my
head for q better view.
In front Of u the white road euried
down Into q gorge an ink-bIack wedge
Of shadow that drovs Into the distance
between silvsx elins bright with the
moonlight
-Is this the place you spoke orr I
asked.
-.It's the BerHunsr Stein. II It's that
you want to know" growled my cousin
from amongst his wraps. Also l wish
you would havs the goodness to shut
that window"
But the remembrance Of what he had
told mo about tho dangers Of the place
sent my eyes to the drivers box As
was leaning from the left-hand window.
I did not expect to see more than the
fellows hat: but, TO my surprise, thars
he was well In view. his coat huddled
about his ears As we moved forward.
the mystery explained itself The man
saw was not driving.
We've taken mp a passenger. Cousin
Graden.~ said |. pulling in my head
What's thatr' he asked sharply. for
my voice had been lost In the loud COM
planning Of the br1xes as we trofred
down the decline.
The drivers giving a friend lift" |
cried. leaning towards him Il suppose
he picked him up at the last village.
WHERE
/ reached no further, for at that In
stant there rose from without a cry of
such utter terror that | sank back into
my place a. IL struck in the face by a
crushing blow | saw a falling body
dash by the risht-hand window; the out
cry of tbs brakes ceased with grating
clsnx. And then. with bound like that
of a leaping horse. the great post-csr-
riags rushed roaring down the hill
/ thrust out my head, ciinging to the
sills of the open window.
The man upon the box seat was lash
Ing the horses SO that they sprang for
ward Ia furious bounds. Even as I
he cast away his whip with a
peal of wild laughter that sounded high
above the turmoil Of the flying hoofs and
the heavy wheels. He turned his head,
bending sideways, the reins held loosely
IN his right hand. 1t was the face of
Marnac that stared down upon me.
His hat had gone, his white hair
streamed backward In the wind. And
he was mad-mad with an open insanity
If which / had observed no trace be-
lore. He shrieksd at me In triumph, |
waving his hand now TO the horses, now
% the chasm beyond the four-foot wall |
hat guarded the road He cursed ms |
xith furious gssficulations Even as |
write. I seem to see those eyes staring |
ding with the lust Of murder Heaven |
end that time viii wipe that rsmsm-
rance from my brainl
I shrank back into the carriage, that |
ocked and swung and danced beneath |
ne. Graden's huge shoulders almost /
locked the other window; but / caught |
light of the CLINT Of his revolver In the |
Was it to be man or horse7
)ns or tbs other. II we were not to leap |
he precipics at the frst sharp turn Sud
euly hs shouted, and again struggled
o nv post. In the darkness down the Il
Dad was the glimmer of lights. Nearer |
nd nearer they drew, and /, too, raised
nv y-fcs In scream Of warning. The
ast City yards we took In one bound
r 80 1t seemed saw carriage grow
ut of the shadow that the cliffs above US
rev across the road. saw our leading
orss swing to the left and leap blindly
I the low wall that hid heaven knew
that frightfu1 depths below; and then,
nth a tottering slide that seemed to
french the heart out Of me, we CURED,
8 a rzc1or skids, into one tkunderous
ra sh that biotted out the world.