e could _not_ fail; he _had_ to keep on. But the next ascent was harder
still; and the shape of fear grew in his breast.

The third long climb was nearly his finish. He would not allow himself
to pause on the way up, though his heart knocked sickeningly against his
ribs, while flames danced in front of his eyes, and there was a roaring
in his ears. Gaining the summit at last, he flung himself down, afraid
for the moment to look at the obstacles beyond. As he slowly recovered,
a real booming disassociated itself from the noises in his head; and he
eagerly raised his head. His eyes swept over a far and wide expanse of
snow, a dish-like plateau among the hills. His heart leaped; for through
the centre of the plateau ran a black fissure, like a crack in the dish;
and off to the left a fleecy cloud rose lazily from the gorge, blushing
pinkly in the light of the setting sun. This must mark the falls; the
Death River lay at his feet.

The excitement of this discovery was immediately superseded by a far
greater. In a direct line with him, on the plain beyond the gorge, he
presently distinguished a few scattering, black objects like insects on
the snow--but insects of the shape of horses. From the gorge itself,
perfectly distinct in the crystalline air, rose a thin, blue column of
smoke!

The haggard furrows in Garth's face smoothed out; his weary eyes shot
forth a quiet glint; and he slowly and grimly smiled. He arose; and
instinctively unslinging his gun, examined the mechanism. A goodly
warmth diffused itself throughout his veins; and he felt strong again.
The end of his journey was in sight.

Darkness had fallen before he reached the lip of the canyon. With bated
breath he crawled to the edge and looked over--there was a chance they
had escaped him again--but in the bottom of the pit, on the other side
of the river, a fire was flickering redly in the darkness; and there was
a hint of figures sitting around it. His heart beat strongly at the
reassuring sight.

The tracks in the snow led him to the top of the path, which descended
into the gorge. This path was steep, narrow, tortuous and slippery; and
he knew not what conditions awaited him at the bottom. Prudence
counselled him to wait for daylight to reconnoitre; but it was not
possible to contain his impatience the night through, with Natalie so
near, and he not knowing if she was safe. He started down instantly,
feeling his way foot by foot; and ever careful to dislod