Этюд в багровых тонах
The Avenging Angels.
Duringthewholeofthatdaytheystruggledonthroughthedefiles,andbyeveningtheycalculatedthattheyweremorethanthirtymilesfromtheirenemies. Atnight-timetheychosethebaseofabeetlingcrag,wheretherocksofferedsomeprotectionfromthechillwind,andtherehuddledtogetherforwarmth,theyenjoyedafewhours’sleep. Beforedaybreak,however,theywereupandontheirwayoncemore. Theyhadseennosignsofanypursuers,andJeffersonHopebegantothinkthattheywerefairlyoutofthereachoftheterribleorganizationwhoseenmitytheyhadincurred. Helittleknewhowfarthatirongraspcouldreach,orhowsoonitwastocloseuponthemandcrushthem.
Aboutthemiddleoftheseconddayoftheirflighttheirscantystoreofprovisionsbegantorunout. Thisgavethehunterlittleuneasiness,however,fortherewasgametobehadamongthemountains,andhehadfrequentlybeforehadtodependuponhisriflefortheneedsoflife. Choosingashelterednook,hepiledtogetherafewdriedbranchesandmadeablazingfire,atwhichhiscompanionsmightwarmthemselves,fortheywerenownearlyfivethousandfeetabovethesealevel,andtheairwasbitterandkeen. Havingtetheredthehorses,andbadeLucyadieu,hethrewhisgunoverhisshoulder,andsetoutinsearchofwhateverchancemightthrowinhisway. Lookingbackhesawtheoldmanandtheyounggirlcrouchingovertheblazingfire,whilethethreeanimalsstoodmotionlessintheback-ground. Thentheinterveningrockshidthemfromhisview.
