Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1908-02-27
CHAPTER xII.-continued.

CHAPTER xlI.-Continued.
They dash up the gorge for half
mile and she says sharply, 1T is
here" pointing to a steep ascent that.
numbered by ferns and wild flowers,
makes a most unpromising roadway.
Then she catches her breath and
whispers: you expect an ambush ?"
for the American has now his rifle on
the saddle in front of him, western
fashion, and his pistols ready in his
belt.
81 do" answered Barnes and relates
the words of the shepherd.
Quick" cries the girl. This trail
will take you right up Del Orc, where
you can look down on Bocognano. BY
1t, you will get between your enemies
and your destination"
my destination is my wife. She is
In this valley with those men,"
ooh. / think not. Saliceti is too
crafty. He is still conveying Enid to
Bocognano and has left only some of
his followers to Stay you. Come on"
Barnes follows his guide up the
steep little path, that covered with
vines and wild flowers is difficult to
discern, but after they had gone few
hundred yards, the rocks growing larg-
er, the trail more precipitous, Marina
says: Here We must leave our ponies
and climb on foot" So they pasture
the two hardy little brutes in a vale
full of soft grasses and leave them
munching contentedly, Barnes, sling
ing his haVersack over his shoulder,
Marina having nothing to carry with
her.
Before her now strides the Ameri.
can, his alert eyes always glancing
down the steep declivities to their left,
for the almost unused trail they are
following is hundreds of feet above the
travelled bride path that keeps to the
torrent, dashing through the bottom of
the valley. After nearly an hour of
this, the noise of a waterfall strikes
their ears, gradually growing louder.
Five minutes later, Barnes holds up
his hand cautiously. Marina's glance
follows his; far below them, conceal
ed in the big rocks that skirt the
stream at the little bridge near the
waterfall are several crouching,
armed men. A little farther down the
rapid, in the top of big beech tree,
is perched another, his hand shading
his eyes from the rays of the declining
sun that shines in his face as he looks
down the pathway coming from the
sast.
These gentlemen are waiting for
me-" remarks the American, in his
face the supreme Joy of a sportsman
who will bag not only one head, but a
battue. He puts his rife on the ground,
loosens both reyolvers in his belt and
asks: THE way to descend the preci-
pice from here?"
"Why2" falters the girl.
why? Because am now the hunt
er," answers Barnes. do you think I
am going to spare the wretches who
have stolen my wife? None of them!
Quick. the path by which / can inter.
cept them and cut them off to the last
mani
Marina looks at his fatal pistols and
shudders! Thank God, there is no
PATH"
"Ah, then will have to be con
tent with the sentry, that fellow in the
beech tree there"
MY God, If you kill any of them,
gasps Marina, you will never gel
Enid out Of the island alive. You came
to save her, not to murder her" She
puts white imploring hand OF
Barnes. who is already preparing hi
rife. Then she suddenly half cries
Your wife! You want her!" an,
points far up to the top of the pass be
tween the two great mountains, Re
Jondo and Del Orc, and Barnes eye
following her hand, he sees figure
silhouetted against the clear blue A
pine air. All are mounted, and one
surely woman.
you think that is my wife,"
Il am sure OF 1t. Saliceti has onl
left some of his men behind to wayla
you II you come on unguardedly."
Barnes doesn't even answer hel
His quick steps are carrying him S
rapidly in pursuit along the dzz
mountain path that Marina. thoug