The Avenging Angels.

           Allnighttheircourselaythroughintricatedefilesandoverirregularandrock-strewnpaths. Morethanoncetheylosttheirway,butHope’sintimateknowledgeofthemountainsenabledthemtoregainthetrackoncemore. Whenmorningbroke,asceneofmarvellousthoughsavagebeautylaybeforethem. Ineverydirectionthegreatsnow-cappedpeakshemmedthemin,peepingovereachother’sshoulderstothefarhorizon. Sosteepweretherockybanksoneithersideofthem,thatthelarchandthepineseemedtobesuspendedovertheirheads,andtoneedonlyagustofwindtocomehurtlingdownuponthem. Norwasthefearentirelyanillusion,forthebarrenvalleywasthicklystrewnwithtreesandboulderswhichhadfalleninasimilarmanner. Evenastheypassed,agreatrockcamethunderingdownwithahoarserattlewhichwoketheechoesinthesilentgorges,andstartledthewearyhorsesintoagallop. 

           Asthesunroseslowlyabovetheeasternhorizon,thecapsofthegreatmountainslituponeaftertheother,likelampsatafestival,untiltheywereallruddyandglowing. Themagnificentspectaclecheeredtheheartsofthethreefugitivesandgavethemfreshenergy. Atawildtorrentwhichsweptoutofaravinetheycalledahaltandwateredtheirhorses,whiletheypartookofahastybreakfast. Lucyandherfatherwouldfainhaverestedlonger,butJeffersonHopewasinexorable. “Theywillbeuponourtrackbythistime,”hesaid. “Everythingdependsuponourspeed. OncesafeinCarsonwemayrestfortheremainderofourlives.”