Этюд в багровых тонах
The Avenging Angels.
Hisstrongwillanduntiringenergyshould,hedetermined,bedevotedtothatoneend. Withagrim,whiteface,heretracedhisstepstowherehehaddroppedthefood,andhavingstirredupthesmoulderingfire,hecookedenoughtolasthimforafewdays. Thishemadeupintoabundle,and,tiredashewas,hesethimselftowalkbackthroughthemountainsuponthetrackoftheavengingangels.
Forfivedayshetoiledfootsoreandwearythroughthedefileswhichhehadalreadytraversedonhorseback. Atnightheflunghimselfdownamongtherocks,andsnatchedafewhoursofsleep;butbeforedaybreakhewasalwayswellonhisway. Onthesixthday,hereachedtheEagleCañon,fromwhichtheyhadcommencedtheirill-fatedflight. Thencehecouldlookdownuponthehomeofthesaints. Wornandexhausted,heleaneduponhisrifleandshookhisgaunthandfiercelyatthesilentwidespreadcitybeneathhim. Ashelookedatit,heobservedthattherewereflagsinsomeoftheprincipalstreets,andothersignsoffestivity. Hewasstillspeculatingastowhatthismightmeanwhenheheardtheclatterofhorse’shoofs,andsawamountedmanridingtowardshim. Asheapproached,herecognizedhimasaMormonnamedCowper,towhomhehadrenderedservicesatdifferenttimes. Hethereforeaccostedhimwhenhegotuptohim,withtheobjectoffindingoutwhatLucyFerrier’sfatehadbeen.
“IamJeffersonHope,”hesaid.“Yourememberme.”
