cting bend of the trail, which sloped abruptly along the face of
the mountain wall. Major Starland paused and with a gentle pressure of
the bridle rein checked the animal.

"Some distance must be passed before the path broadens," he said; "I
hope we shall not hear Martella's signal when half-way thither."

Captain Guzman had also paused as if with the same thought. He was
twenty paces in advance, but did not speak.

"Shall we wait for a few minutes?" asked Miss Starland.

"It will avail nothing; the passage must be made."

"But Martella will be farther away and that will help."

"He may go so far that we shall not hear his signal."

Nevertheless, they remained motionless for a few minutes until Captain
Guzman was seen to move forward again. The delay was fortunate, for a
hundred yards down the trail, the three were suddenly thrilled by the
vibrant whistle, whose echo came back from the opposite cliffs.
Captain Guzman whirled and came running back.

"Hurry! Not a moment is to be lost!"

The trail was narrow, but an expert animal could turn.

"Don't take the risk!" commanded the Major excitedly; "give me your
hand and dismount."

"I can do it; let me alone."

Without hesitation, she jerked the head of the pony around, so as to
face the appalling slope, and, speaking firmly to him, continued
pulling strongly on the bit.

"It is madness! You will both be carried over."

But she gave no heed. The intelligent animal pressed his haunches
against the rocky wall, and began carefully turning. His four hoofs
were set close together, the front ones on the very edge of the
abyss, over which his head projected, and down which the dirt began
crumbling. The support of one hoof yielded and he sank partly
sideways. The Major uttered an angry exclamation and tried to snatch
his sister from the saddle. She resisted and not for a second did she
lose her superb nerve. The horse saved both by partly rearing, and
with his fore legs in air swung round as if on a pivot and set his
feet down again on firm earth, with his nose pointed toward the
Castle. She twitched the rein and spoke sharply. He broke into a
gallop up the path, with the indignant officer running at his heels,
and Guzman close behind him.

"'Twas the maddest folly I ever saw, but heavens! what nerve!"

Brief as was the distance, when they reached the summit of the trail,
Martella dashed up after them.

"I saw him!" he said excitedly; "he came on the gunboat an