Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-25

imam n1tN 1eet anedu. InTOuRn low HdIiSliS
boughs, that she needs must push aside, Beth
followed blindly on. decidedly piqued by the
wholly ungallant indifference to her fate OF the
horseman leading the way.
She caught but glimpse of him now and
again in the density Of the growth. How
strange it was to be following thus, meeklv,
helplessly perforce with some sort of con-
fdence in the charge of this unknown mountain
man, to-whatsoever he might elect! The ut
terly absurd part of it all was, there nothing
else to do-and it was pleasant!
At length they emerged from the shady halls
of trees, to find themselves confronted by the
wall of mountains. Already Van riding up
the slope where larger pines, tall thckets OF
green chinkapin, and lodges OF rock compelled
the trail to many devious windings Once
more the horseman was whistling his Toreador
refrain. He did not look back at his charges.
That he was watching them both, from the tail
of his eye, was fact that Beth felt-and re-
Sented
The steepness of the trail increased At
times the meager pathway disappeared entirely.
1t lay along rocks that gave no sign OF the hoofs
that had previously rung metallic cl1nks on the
granite. How the man in the lead discerned it
here matter Beth could not comprehend.
Some half-confessed need of admiration, al
ready astir in her nature for the horseman and
his way, increased as he breasted the ascent.
How thoroughly at home, how much part Of
it all. he appeared, as he rode on his pony!
Two hours of steady climbing, with her mare
obhque beneath her weight, and Beth felt an
awe in her being. 1t wonderful, it al
most terrible, the fathomless silence, the alti-
tudes, this heretofore inexperienced intimacy
with the mountains very nakedness 1t was
strange altogether, and impressive, the vast un-
folding of the world below, the frequency with
which the pathway skirted some dark precipice
and the apparent unconcern of the man
ahead, now SO absolutely master! And still
that soul inviting exhilaration of the air
aroused those ecstasies within her spirit that
she had not known were there.
THEY were nearing the summit of the pass.
1t was still thousand feet below the snow.
To the left, a mighty chasm trenched the ada
mant, its bottom lowered away to depths of
mysterious blue. Its side, above which the
three stout ponies picked their way.
jagged set of terraces, over the brink of which
the descents were perpendicular.
Rising as if to bar the way, the browning ter
race apparently ended the trail against all
farther advance. Here Van finally halted, dis
mounted, and waited for his charges.
Beth rode up uncertainty, her brown eyes
closely scrutinizing his face. 1t appeared as if
they had come to the end of everything, the
place for leaping off into downward space.
Let me see if the cinches are tight" said the
horseman quietly, and he looked to the girth of
her saddle.
1t was found to be in satisfactory condition.
The girth on the bay he frightened, carelessly
pushing Elsa's foot and the stirrup aside for the
His own horse now showed unmistakable
signs of WEAKNESS. He had travelled some
twenty-odd miles to arrive at Dawes before
undertaking this present bit of hardship. Since
then Van had pushed him to the limit Of his
strength and speed in the effort to reach Goldite
with the smallest possible delay
If sober expression of sympathy came for
second into the horseman's steady eyes, as he
glanced to where his pony was standing, it
quickly gave way to something more inscru-
table as he looked up at Beth, in advancing
once more to the fore.
Both of you give them the rens, +" he in
structed quietly Just drop them down. Let
the broncos pick the trail" He paused, then
added as if on second thought Shut Your eyes
If YOU find you're getting dizzy
Beth turned slightly pale, in anticipation of
some ordeal, undoubtedly imminent; but the
look in her eyes was one of splendid courage.
She might feel that they were all at the gate of
something awful but her nature rose to meet it.
She said nothing: she simply obeyed directions
and looked with new emotions on the somewhat
dropping mare to whom her own safety was in
trusted.
Van was once more in his saddle. He started
and the ponies behind resumed their faithful
plodding at his heels.
A. FEW rods ahead they encountered a
change and Beth could scarcely repress a
gasp of surprise and apprehension. The trail
was laid upon the merest granite shelf, above
that terrible chasm She was terrified, frankly.
The man and pony in the lead were cut with
startling sharpness against the pray of the rock