m and tore at his clothes, frequently lacerating the flesh beneath
with the force of their impact.

These things, however, were only minor troubles as he raced down the
grim forest aisles. His thoughts centred themselves on the main
chance--the chance that embraced life and death. An ill-fate might, at
any moment, plunge horse and rider headlong into one of those silent
sentries. It would mean anything. Broken limbs at the best. But
Providence ever watches over the reckless horseman, and, in spite of a
certain native caution in most things, Tresler certainly was that. He
knew no fear of this jade of a mare, and deep down in his heart there
was a wild feeling of joy, a whole-hearted delight in the very madness
of the race.

And the animal herself, untamed, unchecked, frothing at her bit, her
sides a-lather with foam, her barrel tuckered like that of a finely
trained race-horse, rushed blindly on. The forest echoed and reechoed
with the dull thud of her hoofs as they pounded the thick underlay of
rotting cones. And her rider breathed hard as he lay with his head
beside the reeking neck, and watched for the coming of the end.

Suddenly, in the midst of the gray, he saw a flash of sunlight. It was
like a beacon light to a storm-driven mariner. It was only a gleam of
sunshine and was gone almost at once, but it told him that he was fast
coming on the river. The final shoals, maybe, where wreck alone
awaited him. Just for an instant his purpose wavered. There was still
time to drop to the ground. He would have to chance the mare's flying
heels. And it might save him.

But the idea was driven from his head almost before he realized it;
the mare swerved like a skidding vehicle. He clung desperately to her
mane, one arm was even round her neck in a forcible embrace. The
struggle lasted only a few seconds. Then, as he recovered his
equilibrium, he saw that she had turned into what was undoubtedly a
well-defined, but long-disused, forest trail. The way was clear of
obstruction. The trees had parted, opening up a wide avenue, and above
him shone the perfect azure of the summer sky.

He was amazed. Where could such a trail lead? His answer came
immediately. Away ahead of him, towering above the abundant foliage,
he saw the distant shimmer of snowy peaks, and nearer--so near as to
make him marvel aloud--the forest-clad, broken lands of the
foot-hills. Immediate danger was past and he had time to think. At all
cost he must endea