The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1915-05-28
CHAPTER xV-Continued.

lead me to hope for the best results
What's that?"
That's the cry of a loon"
How awful! Do they often cry ike
that?"
Not often in the nighttime"
Reuther shuddered.
Mr. Black regarded her ~anXiousiy'
Had he done wrong TO let her Join MIN
in this strange ride?
Shall we go back and wait Tor
broad daylight" he asked.
mo. no. l could not bear the sus-
pense OF wondering whether all was
going we'll and the opportunity being
given you of seeing and speaking 10
him. We have taken such precautions
chosen so late (or should | say so
early a start-that I'm sure we have
outwitted the man who Is so watchful
of US. But If we go back, we annot
slip away from him again; and owe
will have to submit to a humiliation
II is our duty to spare him. And the
good Judge, too. | don't care if the
looms do cry: the night is beautiful"
And it was, had their hearts been in
to enjoy it. A gibbous moon had
p. and. inefficient as ii was to light
u le recesses of the forest, 1t IL
"a the treetops and brought out
g.. Inference between earth and sky.
TIL road. known to the horses, if not
TO themselves. extended like a black
ribbon under their eyes, but the
patches of light which fell across it at
intervals took from it the uninter-
rupted gloom it must have otherwise
had. Mr.. Sloan. who was at once
their guide and host, promised that
dawn would be upon them before they
reached the huge gully which was the
n dangerous feature of the road.
Their guide had propbesied truly.
Heralded by that long cry OF the loon.
the dawn began to reveal itself and
the everyday world of the mighty for
est was upon them with its night
mystery gone
But not the omance of their errand.
or the anxiety which both felt as to
its fulfllment. Full sight brought full
realization. However they might seek
to cloak the fact, they could no longer
disguise from themselves hat the OBJ
ject OF their journey might not be &C
ceptable to the mar in hiding at Tenn
pest lodge. Reuther's faith in him was
strong, but even her courage faltered
as she thought OF the disgrace await
ing him whatever the circumstance
or however he might look upon his
fathers imperative command to re-
turn.
But she did not draw rein, and the
three continued to ride up and on.
Suddenly, however. Mr. Sloan was
seen to turn his head sharply. and in
another moment his two companions
heard him say:
We are followed. Ride on and leave
me to take a look"
Tnstinctively they also glanced bach
before obeying, They were just round
ing the top Of an abrupt hill, and ex
pected 10 have an uninterrupted view
of the road behind. But the masses
of foliage were as yet too thick foI
them to see much but the autumna
red and yellow spread out below them
81 hear them: | do not see them,
remarked their guide. Two horse
are approaching"
How far are we now from tn
lodge?"
"A h~alf-hour's ride. We are just a
the opening Of the gully"
You will Join US soon?"
"As quickly as | make out who ar
on the horses behind u.s."
Reuther and the lawyer rode OF
Her cheeks had gained a slight fust
but otharwise she looked unmoved. II
was less at ease than she; for he ha
less to sustain him.
The gully, when they came to l
proved to be a formidable one. II wa
not only deep but precipitous, and &c
the two miles they rode along It's edg
they saw no let-up in the steepness o
one side or of the almost equal
abrupt rise of towering rock on tn
other. Il was Reuther's first exper
ence of so precipitous a climb, and u
der other circumstances she migl
have been timid; but In her presel
heroic mood. it was all a part of h
great adventure, and as such accepte
The lawyer eyed her with grown
admiration. He had not miscalculatt
her pluck.
As they were making a turn to ga
the summit. they heard Mr., Sloan
voice behind them. Drawing in the
horses. they greeted him eagerly WIT
he appeared.
Were you right? Are we followed
That's as may be. | didn't hear
see anything more. | waited, but not
ing happened, so | came on"
His words were surly and his loo
sour; they, therefore, forbore to qu'
ton him further, especially as tbs
keenest interest lay ahead. rath
than behind them. They were neari
Tempest lodge. As 1t broke up
their view, perched like an eagl
>vria nm tho crest Of a riain1 ne;