Этюд в багровых тонах
A Flight for Life.
Theinstantthattheirfootstepshaddiedawayinthedistance,JeffersonHopesprangtohisfeet,andhelpinghiscompanionsthroughthegap,ledthewayacrossthefieldsatthetopofhisspeed,supportingandhalf-carryingthegirlwhenherstrengthappearedtofailher.
“Hurryon!hurryon!”hegaspedfromtimetotime. “Wearethroughthelineofsentinels. Everythingdependsonspeed. Hurryon!”
Onceonthehighroadtheymaderapidprogress. Onlyoncedidtheymeetanyone,andthentheymanagedtoslipintoafield,andsoavoidrecognition. Beforereachingthetownthehunterbranchedawayintoaruggedandnarrowfootpathwhichledtothemountains. Twodarkjaggedpeaksloomedabovethemthroughthedarkness,andthedefilewhichledbetweenthemwastheEagleCañoninwhichthehorseswereawaitingthem. WithunerringinstinctJeffersonHopepickedhiswayamongthegreatbouldersandalongthebedofadried-upwatercourse,untilhecametotheretiredcorner,screenedwithrocks,wherethefaithfulanimalshadbeenpicketed. Thegirlwasplaceduponthemule,andoldFerrierupononeofthehorses,withhismoney-bag,whileJeffersonHopeledtheotheralongtheprecipitousanddangerouspath.
ItwasabewilderingrouteforanyonewhowasnotaccustomedtofaceNatureinherwildestmoods. Ontheonesideagreatcragtoweredupathousandfeetormore,black,stern,andmenacing,withlongbasalticcolumnsuponitsruggedsurfaceliketheribsofsomepetrifiedmonster.
