Этюд в багровых тонах
The Avenging Angels.
Avague,namelessdreadcameoverhim,andhehurriedonwardsfrantically,droppingthepreciousfoodinhisagitation.
Whenheturnedthecorner,hecamefullinsightofthespotwherethefirehadbeenlit. Therewasstillaglowingpileofwoodashesthere,butithadevidentlynotbeentendedsincehisdeparture. Thesamedeadsilencestillreignedallround. Withhisfearsallchangedtoconvictions,hehurriedon. Therewasnolivingcreatureneartheremainsofthefire:animals,man,maiden,allweregone. Itwasonlytooclearthatsomesuddenandterribledisasterhadoccurredduringhisabsence—adisasterwhichhadembracedthemall,andyethadleftnotracesbehindit.
Bewilderedandstunnedbythisblow,JeffersonHopefelthisheadspinround,andhadtoleanuponhisrifletosavehimselffromfalling. Hewasessentiallyamanofaction,however,andspeedilyrecoveredfromhistemporaryimpotence. Seizingahalf-consumedpieceofwoodfromthesmoulderingfire,heblewitintoaflame,andproceededwithitshelptoexaminethelittlecamp. Thegroundwasallstampeddownbythefeetofhorses,showingthatalargepartyofmountedmenhadovertakenthefugitives,andthedirectionoftheirtracksprovedthattheyhadafterwardsturnedbacktoSaltLakeCity. Hadtheycarriedbackbothofhiscompanionswiththem? JeffersonHopehadalmostpersuadedhimselfthattheymusthavedoneso,whenhiseyefelluponanobjectwhichmadeeverynerveofhisbodytinglewithinhim.
