ind him
also reined up their animals.

"The trail winds through these peaks in front, and instead of being
like that we've been riding over all along, keeps close to the side of
the mountain. On the right is the solid rock, and on the left it
slopes down for I don't know how many hundred feet, afore it strikes
bottom. Once started down that slide, you'll never stop till you hit
the rocks below like that mass of stone that tumbled over in front of
you."

"How wide is the path?" asked the parson.

"There's more than a mile where it isn't wide enough for two of us to
ride abreast, and there are plenty of places where a horse has got to
step mighty careful to save himself. Hercules knows how to do it, for
he larned long ago, but I have my doubts about your hosses."

"It might have been better after all if we had brought the mules,"
said the captain.

"Not a bit of it, for Hercules is the only one that knows how to git
over such places."

"How do the others manage it?"

"They've never tried it in the night time; that's what I'm talking
'bout."

Adams's description enabled the others to recall the place. It was all
that had been pictured and they might well pause before assuming the
fearful risk. One reason for wishing to press forward was the
knowledge that at the termination of the dangerous stretch, the trail
was so smooth and even that for a long distance it would be easy to
keep their animals at a gallop, while still further the peril appeared
again.

Captain Dawson once more struck a match and looked at his watch.

"Half-past three; in two hours it will begin to grow light; if no
accident happens we shall be at the end of the ugly piece of ground by
that time, where the traveling is good. It is a pity to lose the
opportunity, but I will leave it to you, parson and Ruggles; what do
you say?"

"Our horses have been pushed pretty hard, but they are in good
condition. I hate to remain idle."

"Then you favor going ahead?"

"I do."

"And you, Ruggles?"

"I feel the same way."

"That settles it; lead on, Vose."

"I'm just as well suited, but keep your wits about you," was the
warning of the leader, whose mule instantly responded, stretching his
neck forward and downward and occasionally snuffing the ground, as if
he depended on his sense of smell more than that of hearing.

The task was a nerve-wrenching one, and more than once each of the
three regretted their haste in not waiting for daylight; but