These pages are copyright, 1997 by Robert J. Petry, C.L. Information on these web pages are for personal use only, and may not be reproduced in any form whatsoever for commercial use of any kind.

This site last updated 02-24-98

"The Only Official Site for Rap Lin Rie /World Speedwords"

Ordinary writing at Shorthand Speed for all Languages

This, the only World Brief-Script in existence, breaks down all the present language barriers to free international correspondence between all countries. R. J. G. Dutton

"Another outstanding and attractive feature of Dutton Speedwords [Rap Lin Rie] is the fact that it is the first abbreviated writing invention in history which at once transcribes all languages." ---R. J. G. Dutton

PAR 2

L Country d l Saints

Chapter 1

O l Great Alkali Plain

I l central portion d l great North American Continent iro lies u arid & repulsive desert, qu f ud u long an served z u barrier against l advance d civilization. D l Sierra Nevada a Nebraska, & d l Yellowstone River i l north a l Colorado oe l south, e u region d desolation & silence. Nor e Nature always i one mood tru-ix c grim district. T comprises snow-capped & lofty mountains, & dark & gloomy valleys. Iro e swift-flowing rivers qu dash tru jagged canons; & iro e enormous plains, qu i winter e white m snow, & i summer e gray m l saline alkali dust. G al preserve, qae, l common characteristics d barrenness, inhospitality, & misery. Iro e n inhabitants d c land d despair. U band d Pawnees or d Blackfeet may occasionally traverse t i ord a reach ot hunting-grounds, b l hardiest d l braves e glad a lose sight d those awesome plains, & a fin g-selves once me oe gi prairies. L coyote skulks among l scrub, l buzzard flaps heavily tru l air, & l clumsy grizzly bear lumbers tru l dark ravines, & picks up so sustenance z t p amongst l rocks. Cz e l sole dwellers i l wilderness.

I l whole world iro p e n me dreary view z that d l northern slope d l Sierra Blanco. Z far z l eye p reach stretches l great flat plain-land, al dusted ov m patches d alkali, & intersected by clumps d l dwarfish chaparral bushes. O l extreme verge d l horizon lie u long chain d mountain peaks, m gi rugged summits flecked m snow. I c great stretch d country iro e n sign d life, nor d anything appertaining a life. Iro e n bird i l steel-blue heaven, n movement oe l dull, gray earth-ov al, iro e absolute silence. Listen z one may, iro e n shadow d u sound i al that mighty wilderness; nothing b silence-ga & heart-subduing silence.

T h e said iro e nothing appertaining a life oe l broad plain. That e hardly true. Looking down d l Sierra Blanco, one sees u pathway traced ix across l desert, qu winds away & e lost i l extreme distance. T e rutted m wheels & trodden down by l feet d ud adventurers. Ir & iro iro e scattered white objects qu glisten i l sun, & stand ix against l dull deposit d alkali. Approach, & examine g! G e bones: ul large & coarse, others smaller & me delicate. L former have belonged a oxen, & l latter a men. F fifteen hundred miles one may trace c ghastly caravan route by cz scattered remains d those qi hy fallen by l wayside.

Looking down o c very scene, iro stood oe l fourth d May, eighteen hundred & forty-seven, u solitary traveller. Si appearance y so that s might have e l very genius or demon d l region. U observer would have found t difficult a say whether s y nearer a forty or a sixty. Si face y lean & haggard, & l brown parchment-like skin y drawn tightly ov l projecting bones; si long, brown hair & beard y al flecked & dashed m white; si eyes y sunken i si head, & burned m u unnatural lustre; while l hand qu grasped si rifle y hardly me fleshy z that d u skeleton. Z s stood, s leaned oe si weapon f support, & yet si tall figure & l massive framework d si bones suggested u wiry & vigorous constitution. Si gaunt face, qae, & si clothes, qu hung so baggily ov si shrivelled limbs, proclaimed qd t y that gave s that senile & decrepit appearance. L man y dying-dying d hunger & d thirst.

S hy toiled painfully down l ravine, & o a c little elevation, i l vain atu d seeing ul signs d water. Nu l great salt plain stretched be si eyes, & l distant belt d savage mountains, mo u sign anywhere d plant or tree, qu might indicate l presence d moisture. I al that broad landscape iro y n gleam d atu. North, & east, & west s looked m wild, questioning eyes, & nux s realized that si wanderings hy come a u end, & that iro, o that barren crag, s y ab a die. "Why n ir, z ub z i u feather bed, twenty years hence?" s muttered, z s seated himself i l shelter d u boulder.

Be sitting down, s hy deposited oe l ground si useless rifle, & ai u large bundle tied up i u gray shawl, qu s hy carried slung ov si right shoulder. T appeared a e somewhat too heavy f si strength, f i lowering t, t came down o l ground m ul little violence. Instantly iro broke d l gray parcel u little moaning cry, & d t iro protruded u small, scared face, m very bright brown eyes, & 2 little speckled dimpled fists. "You've hurt j!" said u childish voice, reproachfully. "Have J, though?" l man answered penitently; "J didn't go f a do t." Z s spoke s unwrapped l gray shawl & extricated u pretty little girl d ab five years d age, whose dainty shoes & smart pink frock m its little linen apron, al bespoke u mother's care. L child y pale & wan, b her healthy arms & legs showed that she hy suffered less z her companion.

"Qa e t nu?" s answered anxiously, f she y still rubbing l tousy golden curls qu covered l back d her head.

"Kiss t & make t ub," she said, m perfect gravity, showing l injured par up a s. "That's qd mother used a do. Where's mother?"

"Mother's gone. j guess you'll vu her be long." "Gone, eh!" said l little girl. "Funny, she didn't say good-bye; she my always did x she y just goin' ov a auntie's f tea, & nu she's e away 3 days. Say, it's awful dry, ain't t? Ain't iro n water nor nothing a eat?" "N, iro ain't nothing, dearie. You'll just nes a e patient awhile, & nux you'll e al right. Put vi head up ag'in j like that, & nux you'll sen bullier. T ain't easy a talk qe vi lips e like leather, b j guess I'd sue let v sa qa l cards lie. What's that you've got?"

"Pretty things! fine things!" cried l little girl enthusiasti-cally, holding up 2 glittering fragments d mica. "Qe w goes back a home I'll da g a brother Bob." "You'll vu prettier things z g soon," said l man confidently. "V just wait u bit. j y going a tell v though-v remember qe w left l river?" "Oh, yes."

"Ub, w reckoned we'd strike another river soon, d'ye vu. B iro y somethin' wrong; compasses, or map, or somethin', & t didn't turn up. Water ran ix. Just except u little drop f l likes d v, &-&-" "& v couldn't wash yourself," interrupted si companion gravely, staring up a si grimy visage.

"N, nor drink. & Mr. Bender, s y l fust a go, & nux Indian Pete, & nux Mrs. McGregor, & nux Johnny Hones, & nux, dearie, vi mother."

"Nux mother's u deader too," cried l little girl, dropping her face i her pinafore & sobbing bitterly. "Yes, g al went except v & j. Nux j thought iro y ul chance d water i c direction, so l heaved v ov ji shoulder & w tramped t together. T don't seem z though we've improved matters. There's u almighty small chance f w nu!"

"Do v mean that w e going a die a?" asked l child, checking her sobs, & raising her tear-stained face. "J guess that's ab l size d t."

"Why didn't v say so be?" she said, laughing glee-fully. "V gave j so u fright. Why, d course, nu z long z w die we'll e m mother re."

"Yes, v will, dearie."

"& v too. I'll tell her qa awful good you've e. I'll bet she meets w a l door d heaven m u big pitcher d water, & u lot d buckwheat cakes, hot & toasted o jel sides, like Bob & j y fond d. Qa long will t e uv?" "J don't sa-n very long." L man's eyes y fixed oe l northern horizon. I l blue vault d l heaven iro hy appeared 3 little specks qu increased i size je moment, so rapidly did g approach. G speedily resolved themselves ia 3 large brown birds, qu circled ov l heads d l 2 wanderers, & nux settled oe ul rocks qu overlooked g. G y buzzards, l vultures d l West, whose coming e l forerunner d death. "Cocks & hens," cried l little girl gleefully, pointing a gi ill-omened forms, & clapping her hands a make g rise. "Say, did God make c country?"

"D course S did," said her companion, rather startled by c unexpected question.

"S made l country down i Illinois, & S made l Missouri," l little girl continued. "J guess somebody else made l country i cz parts. It's n nearly so ub done. G forgot l water & l trees."

"Qd would ye think d offering up prayer?" l man asked diffidently.

"T ain't night yet," she answered.

"T don't matter. T ain't quite regular, b S won't mind that, v bet. V say ov g ones that v used a say je night i l wagon qe w y o l plains." "Why don't v say ul yourself?" l child asked, m wondering eyes.

"J disremember g," s answered. "J hain't said none since j y half l height o' that gun. j guess it's never too late. V say g ix, & I'll stand by & come i o l choruses." "Nux you'll nes a kneel down, & j too," she said, laying l shawl ix f that purpose. "You've got a put vi hands up like c. T makes v sen kind d good." T y u strange sight, hy iro e anything b l buz-zards a vu t. Side by side o l narrow shawl knelt l 2 wanderers, l little prattling child & l reckless, hardened adventurer. Her chubby face & si haggard, angular visage y jel turned up a l cloudless heaven i heartfelt entreaty a that dread Being m qi g y face a face, while l 2 voices-l one thin & clear, l ot deep & harsh- united i l entreaty f mercy & forgiveness. L prayer finished, g resumed gi seat i l shadow d l boulder until l child fell asleep, nestling oe l broad breast d her protector. S watched ov her slumber f ul te, b Nature proved a e too strong f s. F 3 days & 3 nights s hy allowed himself neither rest nor repose. Slowly l eyelids drooped ov l tired eyes, & l head sunk lower & lower oe l breast, until l man's grizzled beard y mixed m l gold tresses d si companion, & jel slept l id deep & dreamless slumber.

Hy l wanderer remained awake f another half-hour u strange sight would have met si eyes. Far away o l extreme verge d l alkali plain iro rose up u little spray d dust, very slight a uv, & hardly a e distinguished d l mists d l distance, b gradually growing higher & broader until t formed u solid, ub-defined cloud. C cloud continued a increase i size until t became evident that t yp sol e raised by u great multitude d moving creatures. I me fertile spots l observer would have come a l conclusion that one d those great herds d bisons qu graze oe l prairie land y approaching s. C y obviously impossible i cz arid wilds. Z l whirl d dust drew nearer a l solitary bluff oe qu l 2 castaways y reposing, l canvas-covered tilts d wagons & l figures d armed horsemen began a show up tru l haze, & l apparition revealed itself z being u great caravan oe its journey f l West. B qd u caravan! Qe l head d t hy reached l base d l mountains, l rear y n yet visible o l horizon. Right across l enor-mous plain stretched l straggling array, wagons & carts, men o horseback, & men o foot. Innumerable women qi stag-gered along ovo burdens, & children qi toddled beside l wagons or peeped ix d ovo l white coverings. C y evidently n ordinary party d immigrants, b rather ul n-mad people qi hy e compelled d stress d circum-stances a seek themselves u nov country. Iro rose tru l clear air u confused clattering & rumbling d c great mass d humanity, m l creaking d wheels & l neighing d horses. Loud z t y, t y n sufficient a rouse l 2 tired wayfarers ov g.

A l head d l column iro rode u score or me d grave, iron-faced men, clad i sombre homespun garments & armed m rifles. O reaching l base d l bluff g halted, & held u short council among themselves.

"L wells e a l right, ji brothers," said one, u hard-lipped, clean-shaven man m grizzly hair. "A l right d l Sierra Blanco-so w shall reach l Rio Grande," said another.

"Fear n f water," cried u third. "S qi yp draw t d l rocks will n nu abandon Si own chosen people." "Amen! amen!" responded l whole party. G y ab a resume gi journey qe one d l youngest & keenest-eyed uttered u exclamation & pointed up a thie rugged crag ov g. D its summit iro fluttered u little wisp d pink, showing up hard & bright against l gray rocks behind. A l sight iro y u general reining up d horses & unslinging d guns, while fresh horsemen came gal-loping up a reinforce l vanguard. L word "Redskins" y o je lip.

"Iro can't e ul num d Injuns ir," said l elderly man qi appeared a e i command. "W have passed l Pawlees, & iro e n ot tribes until w cross l great mountains."

"Shall j go fov & vu, Brother Stangerson?" asked one d l band.

"& J," "& J," cried u dozen voices.

"Leave vi horses below & w will await v ir," l elder answered. I u moment l young fellows hy dismounted, fastened gi horses, & y ascending l precipitous slope qu led up a l object qu hy excited gi curiosity. G advanced rapidly & noiselessly, m l confidence & dexterity d practised scouts. L watchers d l plain below yp vu g flit d rock a rock until gi figures stood ix against l sky-lyl. L young man qi hy uv given l alarm y leading g. Suddenly si followers saw s throw up si hands, z though overcome m astonishment, & o joining s g y affected i l id way by l sight qu met gi eyes.

O l little plateau qu crowned l barren hill iro stood u single giant boulder, & against c boulder iro lay u tall man, long-bearded & hard-featured, b d u excessive thin-ness. Si placid face & regular breathing showed that s y fast asleep. Beside s lay u child, m her round white arms encircling si brown sinewy neck, & her golden-haired head resting oe l breast d si velveteen tunic. Her rosy lips y parted, showing l regular lyl d snow-white teeth within, & u playful smile played ov her infantile features. Her plump little white legs, terminating i white socks & neat shoes m shining buckles, offered u strange contrast a l long shrivelled members d her companion. O l ledge d rock ov c strange couple iro stood 3 solemn buzzards, qi, a l sight d l newcomers, uttered raucous screams d disappoint-ment & flapped sullenly away.

L cries d l foul birds awoke l 2 sleepers, qi stared ab g i bewilderment. L man staggered a si feet & looked down oe l plain qu hy e so desolate qe sleep hy overtaken s, & qu y nu traversed by c enormous body d men & d beasts. Si face assumed u expression d incredulity z s gazed, & s passed si bony hand ov si eyes. "C e qd g call delirium, j guess " s muttered. L child stood beside s, holding o a l skirt d si coat, & said nothing, b looked al round her m l wondering, questioning gaze d childhood. L rescuing party y speedily p a convince l 2 castaways that gi appearance y n delusion. One d g seized l little girl & hoisted her oe si shoulder, while 2 others supported her gaunt companion, & assisted s fov l wagons.

"Ji name e John Ferrier," l wanderer explained; "j & that little un e al that's left o' twenty-one people. L rest e al dead o' thirst & hunger away down i l south." "E she vi child?" asked someone.

"J guess she e nu," l ot cried, defiantly; "she's mine 'cause j saved her. N man will ne her d j. She's Lucy Ferrier d c de o. Qi e v, though?" s contin-ued, glancing m curiosity a si stalwart, sunburned rescuers;

"iro seems a e u powerful lot d ye."

"Nigh unto ten thousand," said one d l young men; "w e l persecuted children d God-l chosen d l Angel Moroni."

"J never heard tell o s," said l wanderer. "S appears a have chosen u fair crowd d ye."

"Do n jest a that qu e sacred," said l ot, sternly. "W e d those qi believe i those sacred writings, drawn i Egyptian letters o plates d beaten gold, qu y handed unto l holy Joseph Smith a Palmyra. W have come d Nauvoo, i l state d Illinois, qo w hy founded wi temple. W have come a seek u refuge d l violent man & d l godless, even though t e l heart d l desert." L name d Nauvoo evidently recalled recollections a John Ferrier. "J vu," s said; "v e l Mormons." "W e l Mormons," answered si companions m one voice.

"& qo e v going?"

"W do n sa. L hand d God e leading w ovo l person d wi Prophet. V must come be s. S shall say qd e a e done m v."

G hy reached l base d l hill by c te, & y surrounded by crowds d l pilgrims-pale-faced, meek-looking women; strong, laughing children; & anxious, earnest-eyed men. Ud y l cries d astonishment & d commiseration qu arose d g qe g perceived l youth d one d l strangers & l destitution d l ot. Gi escort did n halt, qae, b pushed o, followed by u great crowd d Mormons, until g reached u wagon, qu y conspicuous f its great size & f l gaudiness & smartness d its appearance. Six horses y yoked a t, whereas l others y furnished m 2, or, a my, four apiece. Beside l driver iro sat u man qi yp n have e me z thirty years d age, b whose massive head & resolute expression marked s z u leader. S y reading u brown-backed volume, b z l crowd approached s laid t aside, & listened attentively a u account d l episode. Nux s turned a l 2 castaways. "X w ne v m w," s said, i solemn words, "t p sol e z believers i wi own creed. W shall have n wolves i wi fold. Su far that vi bones should bleach i c wilderness z that v should prove a e that little speck d decay qu i te corrupts l whole fruit. Will v come m w o cz terms?"

"Guess I'll come m v o ul terms," said Ferrier, m so emphasis that l grave Elders yp n restrain u smile. L leader alone retained si stern, impressive expression. "Ne s, Brother Stangerson," s said, "da s food & drink, & l child likewise. Let t e vi task ai a teach s wi holy creed. W have delayed long enough. F-ward! O, o a Zion!"

"O, o a Zion!" cried l crowd d Mormons, & l words rippled down l long caravan, passing d mouth a mouth until g died away i u dull murmur i l far distance. M u cracking d whips & u creaking d wheels l great wagons got ia motion, & soon l whole caravan y wind-ing along once me. L Elder a whose care l 2 waifs hy e committed led g a si wagon, qo u meal y already awaiting g.

"V shall remain ir," s said. "I u few days v will have recovered d vi fatigues. I l meantime, remember that nu & forever v e d wi religion. Brigham Young h said t, & s h spoken m l voice d Joseph Smith, qu e l voice d God."

Chapter 2

L Flower d Utah

C e n l place a commemorate l trials & privations endured by l immigrant Mormons be g came a gi final haven. D l shores d l Mississippi a l western slopes d l Rocky Mountains g hy struggled o m u constancy almost unparalleled i history. L savage man, & l savage beast, hunger, thirst, fatigue, & disease-je impediment qu Nature yp place i l way-hy al e overcome m Anglo-Saxon tenacity. Yet l long journey & l accumulated terrors hy shaken l hearts d l stoutest among g. Iro y n one qi did n sink oe si knees i heartfelt prayer qe g saw l broad valley d Utah bathed i l sunlight beneath g, & learned d l lips d gi leader that c y l promised land, & that cz virgin acres y a e gi f evermore.

Young speedily proved himself a e u skilful administrator z ub z u resolute chief. Maps y drawn & charts prepared, i qu l paso urbe y sketched ix. Al around farms y apportioned & allotted i proportion a l standing d je individual. L tradesman y put a si trade & l artisan a si calling. I l town streets & squares sprang up z x by magic. I l country iro y draining & hedging, planting & clearing, until l next summer saw l whole country golden m l wheat crop. Everything prospered i l strange settlement. Ov al, l great temple qu g hy erected i l centre d l urbe grew ever taller & larger. D l uv blush d dawn until l closing d l twilight, l clatter d l hammer & l rasp d l saw y never absent d l monument qu l immigrants erected a S qi hy led g safe tru ud dangers.

L 2 castaways, John Ferrier & l little girl, qi hy shared si fortunes & hy e adopted z si daughter, ac-companied l Mormons a l end d gi great pilgrimage. Little Lucy Ferrier y borne along pleasantly enough i Elder Stangerson's wagon, u retreat qu she shared m l Mor-mon's 3 wives & m si son, u headstrong, fov boy d twelve. Having rallied, m l elasticity d childhood, d l shock caused by her mother's death, she soon became u pet m l women, & reconciled herself a c nov life i her moving canvas-covered home. I l meantime Ferrier having recovered d si privations, distinguished himself z u useful guide & u indefatigable hunter. So rapidly did s gain l esteem d si nov companions, that qe g reached l end d gi wanderings, t y unanimously agreed that s should e provided m z large & z fertile u tract d land z ul d l settlers, m l exception d Young himself, & d Stangerson, Kemball, Johnston, & Drebber, qi y l four principal Elders.

O l farm thus acquired John Ferrier built himself u substan-tial log-house, qu received so ud additions i succeeding years that t grew ia u roomy villa. S y u man d u practical turn d mind, keen i si dealings & skilful m si hands. Si iron constitution enabled s a ra morning & evening a improving & tilling si lands. Hence t came ab that si farm & al that belonged a s prospered exceedingly. I 3 years s y su off z si neighbours, i six s y ub-a-do. i nine s y rich, & i twelve iro y n half u dozen men i l whole d Salt Lake Urbe qi yp compare m s. D l great inland sea a l distant Wasatch Mountains iro y n name su known z that d John Ferrier.

Iro y one way & sol one i qu s offended l susceptibilities d si co-religionists. N argument or persuasion yp ever induce s a set up u female establishment po l manner d si companions. S never gave reasons f c persistent refusal, b contented himself by resolutely & inflex-ibly adhering a si determination. Iro y ul qi ac-cused s d lukewarmness i si adopted religion, & others qi put t down a greed d wealth & reluctance a incur expense. Others, re, spoke d ul early love affair, & d u fair-haired girl qi hy pined away o l shores d l Atlan-tic. Whatever l reason, Ferrier remained strictly celibate. I je ot respect s conformed a l religion d l young settlement, & gained l name d being u orthodox & straight-walking man.

Lucy Ferrier grew up within l log-house, & assisted her adopted father i al si undertakings. L keen air d l mountains & l balsamic odour d l pine trees took l place d nurse & mother a l young girl. Z an succeeded a an she grew taller & stronger, her cheek me ruddy & her step me elastic. Ud u wayfarer oe l high road qu ran by Ferrier's farm felt long-forgotten thoughts revive i si mind z s watched her lithe, girlish figure tripping tru l wheatfields, or met her mounted oe her father's mustang, & managing t m al l ease & grace d u true child d l West. So l bud blossomed ia u flower, & l an qu saw her father l richest d l farmers left her z fair u specimen d American girlhood z yp e found i l whole Pacific slope.

T y n l father, qae, qi uv discovered that l child hy developed ia l woman. T seldom e i so cases. That mysterious change e too subtle & too gradual a e measured by dates. Least d al does l maiden herself sa t until l tone d u voice or l touch d u hand sets her heart thrilling within her, & she learns, m u mixture d pride & d fear, that u nov & u larger nature h awakened within her. Iro e few qi cannot recall that de & remember l one little incident qu heralded l dawn d u nov life. I l case d Lucy Ferrier l occasion y serious enough i itself, apart d its paso influence o her destiny & that d ud besides. T y u warm June morning, & l Latter De Saints y z busy z l bees whose hive g have chosen f gi emblem. I l fields & i l streets rose l id hum d human industry. Down l dusty high roads defiled long streams d heavily laden mules, al heading a l west, f l gold fever hy broken ix i California, & l overland route lay tru l urbe d l Elect. Iro, too, y droves d sheep & bullocks coming i d l outlying pasture lands, & trains d tired immigrants, men & horses equally weary d gi interminable journey. Tru al c motley assemblage, thread-ing her way m l skill d u accomplished rider, iro galloped Lucy Ferrier, her fair face flushed m l exercise & her long chestnut hair floating ix behind her. She hy u com-mission d her father i l urbe, & y dashing i z she hy done ud u te be, m al l fearlessness d youth, thinking sol d her task & qa t y a e performed. L travel-stained adventurers gazed po her i astonishment, & even l unemotional Indians, journeying i m gi peltries, relaxed gi accustomed stoicism z g marvelled a l beauty d l pale-faced maiden.

She hy reached l outskirts d l urbe qe she found l road blocked by u great drove d cattle, driven by u half-dozen wild-looking herdsmen d l plains. I her impatience she endeavoured a pass c obstacle by pushing her horse ia qd appeared a e u gap. Scarcely hy she got fairly ia t, qa-ever, be l beasts closed i behind her, & she found herself completely embedded i l moving stream d fierce-eyed, long-horned bullocks. Accustomed z she y a deal m cattle, she y n alarmed a her situation, b took advantage d je ozu a urge her horse o, i l hopes oi. pushing her way tru l cavalcade. Unfortunately l horns d one d l creatures, either by accident or design, came i violent contact m l flank d l mustang, & excited t a madness. I u instant t reared up oe its hind legs m u snort d rage, & pranced & tossed i u way that would have unseated ul b u skilful rider. L situation y full d peril. Je plunge d l excited horse brought t against l horns re, & goaded t a fresh madness. T y al that l girl yp do a keep herself i l saddle, yet u slip would mean u terrible death ovo l hoofs d l unwieldy & terrified animals. Unaccustomed a sudden emergencies, her head began a swim, & her grip oe l bridle a relax. Choked by l rising cloud d dust & by l steam d l struggling crea-tures, she might have abandoned her efforts i despair, b f u kindly voice a her elbow qu assured her d assistance. A l id moment u sinewy brown hand caught l frightened horse by l curb, & forcing u way tru l drove, soon brought her a l outskirts.

"You're n hurt, j atu, miss," said her preserver, respectfully.

She looked up a si dark, fierce face, & laughed saucily. "I'm awful frightened," she said, naively; "whoever would have thought that Poncho would have e so scared by u lot d cows?"

"Gra God, v kept vi seat," l ot said, earnestly. S y u tall, savage-looking young fellow, mounted o u powerful roan horse, & clad i l rough dress d u hunter, m u long rifle slung ov si shoulders. "J guess v e l daughter d John Ferrier," s remarked; "J saw v ride down d si house. Qe v vu s, ask s x s remembers l Jefferson Hopes d St. Louis. X he's l id Ferrier, ji father & s y pretty thick."

"Hadn't v su come & ask yourself?" she asked, demurely.

L young fellow seemed pleased a l suggestion, & si dark eyes sparkled m pleasure. "I'll do so," s said; "we've e i l mountains f 2 months, & e n ov & ov i visiting condition. S must ne w z s finds w." "S h u good deal a gra v f, & so have J," she answered; "he's awful fond d j. X those cows hy jumped o j he'd have never got ov t."

"Neither would J," said her companion.

"V! Ub, j don't vu that t would make mu matter a v, anyhow. V ain't even u friend d ours." L young hunter's dark face grew so gloomy ov c re-mark that Lucy Ferrier laughed aloud.

"Iro, j didn't mean that," she said; "d course, v e u friend nu. V must come & vu w. Nu j must push along, or father won't trust j m si af ul me. Good-bye!" "Good-bye," s answered, raising si broad sombrero, & bending ov her little hand. She wheeled her mustang round, gave t u cut m her riding-whip, & darted away down l broad road i u rolling cloud d dust.

Young Jefferson Atu rode o m si companions, gloomy & tacitum. S & g hy e among l Nevada Moun-tains prospecting f silver, & y returning a Salt Lake Urbe i l atu d raising capital enough a ra ul lodes qu g hy discovered. S hy e z keen z ul d g oe l af until c sudden incident hy drawn si thoughts ia another channel. L sight d l fair young girl, z frank & wholesome z l Sierra breezes, hy stirred si volcanic, untamed heart a its very depths. Qe she hy vanished d si sight, s realized that u crisis hy come i si life, & that neither silver speculations nor ul ot questions yp ever e d so importance a s z c nov & al-absorbing one. L love qu hy sprung up i si heart y n l sudden, changeable fancy d u boy, b rather l wild, fierce passion d u man d strong will & imperious temper. S hy e accus-tomed a succeed i al that s undertook. S swore i si heart that s would n fail i c x human effort & human perse-verance yp render s successful.

S called o John Ferrier that night, & ud times re, until si face y u familiar one a l farmhouse. John, cooped up i l valley, & absorbed i si ra, hy hy little chance d learning l news d l outside world during l uvo twelve years. Al c Jefferson Atu y p a tell s, & i u style qu interested Lucy z ub z her father. S hy e u pioneer i California, & yp narrate ud u strange tale d fortunes made & fortunes lost i those wild, halcyon days. S hy e u scout too, & u trapper, u silver explorer, & u ranchman. Wherever stirring adventures y a e hy, Jeffer-son Atu hy e iro i search d g. S soon became u favourite m l old farmer, qi spoke eloquently d si virtues. O so occasions, Lucy y silent, b her blushing cheek & her bright, happy eyes showed sol too clearly that her young heart y n longer her own. Her honest father may n have observed cz symptoms, b g y assuredly n thrown away oe l man qi hy won her affections. One summer evening s came galloping down l road & pulled up a l gate. She y a l doorway, & came down a ren s. S threw l bridle ov l fence & strode up l pathway.

"J e off, Lucy," s said, taking her 2 hands i si, & gazing tenderly down ia her face: "J won't ask v a come m j nu, b will v e ready a come qe j e ir re?"

"& qe will that e?" she asked, blushing & laughing. "U couple d months a l outside. j will come & claim v nux, ji darling. There's n one qi p stand between w. "

"& qa ab father?" she asked.

"S h given si consent, provided w ob cz mines working al right. j have n fear o that head." "Oh, ub; d course, x v & father have arranged t al, there's n me a e said," she whispered, m her cheek against si broad breast.

"Gra God!" s said, hoarsely, stooping & kissing her.

"T e settled, nux. L longer j stay, l harder t will e a go. G e waiting f j a l canon. Good-bye, ji own darling-good-bye. I 2 months v shall vu j." S tore himself d her z s spoke, &, flinging himself oe si horse, galloped furiously away, never even looking round, z though afraid that si resolution might fail s x s took one glance a qd s y leaving. She stood a l gate, gazing po s until s vanished d her sight. Nux she walked back ia l house, l happiest girl i al Utah.

Chapter 3

John Ferrier Talks m l Prophet

3 weeks hy passed since Jefferson Atu & si comrades hy departed d Salt Lake Urbe. John Ferrier's heart y sore within s qe s thought d l young man's ur, & d l impending loss d si adopted child. Yet her bright & happy face reconciled s a l arrangement me z ul argument yp have done. S hy always determined, deep down i si resolute heart, that nothing would ever induce s a allow si daughter a wed u Mormon. So marriage s regarded z n marriage a al, b z u shame & u disgrace. Whatever s might think d l Mormon doctrines, oe that one point s y inflexible. S hy a seal si mouth o l subject, qa-ever, f a express u unorthodox opinion y u dangerous matter i those days i l Land d l Saints. Yes, u dangerous matter-so dangeous that even l my saintly dared sol whisper gi religious opinions m bated breath, lest something qu fell d gi lips might e mis-construed, & bring down u swift retribution oe g. L victims d persecution hy nu turned persecutors o gi own account, & persecutors d l my terrible description. N l Inquisition d Seville, nor l German Vehmgericht, nor l secret societies d Italy, y ever p a put u me formidable machinery i motion z that qu cast u cloud ov l state d Utah.

Its invisibility, & l mystery qu y attached a t, made c organization doubly terrible. T appeared a e omniscient & omnipotent, & yet y neither seen nor heard. L man qi held ix against l Church vanished away, & none knew whither s hy gone or qd hy befallen s. Si wife & si children awaited s a home, b n father ever returned a tell g qa s hy fared a l hands d si secret judges. U rash word or u hasty act y followed by annihilation, & yet none knew qd l nature might e d c terrible power qu y suspended ov g. N wonder that men went ab i fear & trembling, & that even i l heart d l wilderness g dared n whisper l doubts qu oppressed g. A uv c vague & terrible power y exercised sol oe l recalcitrants qi, having embraced l Mormon faith, wished afterwards a pervert or a abandon t. Soon, qae, t took u wider range. L supply d adult women y running short, & polygamy mo u female population o qu a draw y u barren doctrine indeed. Strange rumours began a e bandied ab-rumours d murdered immigrants & rifled camps i regions qo Indians hy never e seen. Fresh women ap-peared i l harems d l Elders-women qi pined & wept, & bore oe gi faces l traces d u unextinguishable horror. Belated wanderers oe l mountains spoke d gangs d armed men, masked, stealthy, & noiseless, qi flitted by g i l darkness. Cz tales & rumours took substance & shape, & y corroborated & recorroborated, until g resolved themselves ia u definite name. A c de, i l lonely ranches d l West, l name d l Danite Band, or l Avenging Angels, e u sinister & u ill-omened one. Fuller knowledge d l organization qu produced so terrible results served a increase rather z a lessen l horror qu t inspired i l minds d men. None knew qi belonged a c ruthless society. L names d l participators i l deeds d blood & violence done ovo l name d religion y kept profoundly secret. L very friend a qi v communicated vi misgivings z a l Prophet & si mission might e one d those qi would come forth a night m fire & sword a exact u terrible reparation. Hence je man feared si neighbour, & none spoke d l things qu y nearest si heart.

One fine morning John Ferrier y ab a set ix a si wheatfields, qe s heard l click d l latch, &, looking tru l window, saw u stout, sandy-haired, middle-aged man coming up l pathway. Si heart leapt a si mouth, f c y none ot z l great Brigham Young himself. Full d trepidation-f s knew that so u visit boded s little good-Ferrier ran a l door a greet l Mormon chief. L latter, qae, received si salutations coldly, & followed s m u stern face ia l sitting-room. "Brother Ferrier," s said, taking u seat, & eyeing l farmer keenly d ovo si light-coloured eyelashes, "l true believers have e good friends a v. W picked v up qe v y starving i l desert, w shared wi food m v, led v safe a l Chosen Valley, gave v u goodly share d land, & allowed v a wax rich ovo wi protection. E n c so?"

"T e so," answered John Ferrier.

"I ur f al c w asked b one condition: that y, that v should embrace l true faith, & conform i je way a its usages. C v promised a do, & c, x common ifl says truly, v have neglected."

"& qa have j neglected t?" asked Ferrier, throwing ix si hands i expostulation. "Have j n given a l common fund? Have j n attended a l Temple? Have j n?" "Qo e vi wives?" asked Young, looking round s.

"Call g i, that j may greet g."

"T e true that j have n married," Ferrier answered. "B women y few, & iro y ud qi hy su claims z J. j y n u lonely man: j hy ji daughter a attend a ji wants."

"T e d that daughter that j would speak a v," said l leader d l Mormons. "She h grown a e l flower d Utah, & h found favour i l eyes d ud qi e high i l land."

John Ferrier groaned internally.

"Iro e stories d her qu j would fain disbelieve- stories that she e sealed a ul Gentile. C must e l gossip d idle tongues. Qd e l thirteenth rule i l code d l sainted Joseph Smith? 'Let je maiden d l true faith marry one d l elect; f x she wed u Gentile, she commits u grievous sin.' C being so, t e impossible that v, qi profess l holy creed, should suffer vi daughter a violate t." John Ferrier made n answer, b s played nervously m si riding-whip.

"Oe c one point vi whole faith shall e tested-so t h e decided i l Sacred Council d Four. L girl e young, & w would n have her wed gray hairs, neither would w deprive her d al choice. W Elders have ud heifers, b wi children must ai e provided. Stangerson h u son, & Drebber h u son, & either d g would gladly welcome vi daughter a si house. Let her choose between g. G e young & rich, & d l true faith. Qd say v a that?"

Ferrier remained silent f ul little te m si brows knitted.

"V wil da w te," s said a uvo. "Ji daughter e very young-she e scarce d u age a marry." "She shall have u lu a choose," said Young, rising d si seat. "A l end d that te she shall da her answer." S y passing tru l door, qe s turned m flushed face & flashing eyes. "T y su f v, John Ferrier," s thundered, "that v & she y nu lying blanched skeletons oe l Sierra Blanco, z that v should put vi weak wills against l orders d l Holy Four!" M u threatening gesture d si hand, s turned d l door, & Ferrier heard si heavy steps scrunching along l shingly path.

S y still sitting m si elbow oe si knee, considering qa s should broach l matter a si daughter, qe u soft hand y laid oe si, & looking up, s saw her standing beside s. One glance a her pale, frightened face showed s that she hy heard qd hy passed.

"J yp n opo t," she said, i answer a si look. "Si voice rang tru l house. Oh, father, father, qd shall w do?"

"Don't v scare yourself," s answered, drawing her a s, & passing si broad, rough hand caressingly ov her chestnut hair. "We'll fix t up somehow or another. V don't fin vi fancy kind o' lessening f c chap, do v?" U sob & u squeeze d si hand y her sol answer.

"N; d course n. j shouldn't care a hear v say v did. He's u likely lad, & he's u Christian, qu e morc z cz folks ir, i spite o' al gi praying & preaching. There's u party starting f Nevada a-morrow, & I'll manage a ze s u message letting s sa l hole w e i. X j sa anything o' that young man, he'll e back m u speed that would whip electro-telegraphs."

Lucy laughed tru her tears a her father's description. "Qe s comes, s will advise w f l sue. B t e f v that j e frightened, dear. One hears-one hears so dreadful stories ab those qi oppose l Prophet; something terrible always happens a g."

"B w haven't opposed s yet," her father answered. "T will e te a look ix f squalls qe w do. W have u clear lu be w; a l end d that, j guess w hy sue shin ix d Utah."

"Leave Utah!"

"That's ab l size d t."

"B l farm?"

"W will raise z mu z w p i money, & let l rest go. A tell l truth, Lucy, t isn't l uv te j have thought d doing t. j don't care ab knuckling ovo a ul man, z cz folk do a gi damed Prophet. I'm u freeborn American, & it's al nov a j. Guess I'm too old a learn. X s comes browsing ab c farm, s might chance a run up against u charge d buckshot travelling i l opposite direction." "B g won't let w leave," si daughter objected. "Wait till Jefferson comes, & we'll soon manage that. I l meantime, don't v fret yourself, ji dearie, & don't ob vi eyes swelled up, else he'll e walking ia j qe s sees v. There's nothing a e afeared ab, & there's n danger a al."

John Ferrier uttered cz consoling remarks i u very confident tone, b she yp n opo observing that s paid unusual care a l fastening d l doors that night, & that s carefully cleaned & loaded l rusty old shot-gun qu hung oe l wall d si bedroom.

Chapter 4

U Flight f Life

0n l mornihg qu followed si interview m l Mormon Prophet, John Ferrier went i a Salt Lake Urbe, & having found si acquaintance, qi y bound f l Nevada Moun-tains, s entrusted s m si message a Jefferson Atu. I t s told l young man d l imminent danger qu threatened g, & qa nes t y that s should ur. Having done thus s felt easier i si mind, & returned home m u lighter heart.

Z s approached si farm, s y surprised a vu u horse hitched a je d l posts d l gate. Still me surprised y s o l entering a fin 2 young men i possession d si sitting-room. One, m u long pale face, y leaning back i l rocking-chair, m si feet cocked up oe l stove. L ot, u bull-necked youth m coarse, bloated features, y standing i front d l window m si hands i si pockets whistling u popular hymn. Jel d g nodded a Ferrier z s entered, & l one i l rocking-chair commenced l conversation. "Maybe v don't sa w," s said. "C ir e l son d Elder Drebber, & I'm Joseph Stangerson, qi travelled m v i l desert qe l Lord stretched ix Si hand & gathered v ia l true fold."

"Z S will al l nations i Si own good te," said l ot i u nasal voice; "S grindeth slowly b exceeding small." John Ferrier bowed coldly. S hy guessed qi si visitors y.

"W have come," continued Stangerson, "a l advice d wi fathers a solicit l hand d vi daughter f whichever d w may seem good a v & a her. Z j have b four wives & Brother Drebber ir h seven, t appears a j that ji claim e l stronger one."

"Nay, nay, Brother Stangerson," cried l ot; "l ques-tion e n qa ud wives w have, b qa ud w p keep. Ji father h nu given ov si mills a j, & j e l richer man."

"B ji prospects e su," said l ot, warmly. "Qe l Lord removes ji father, j shall have si tanning yard & si leather factory. Nux j e vi elder, & e higher i l Church."

"T will e f l maiden a decide," rejoined young Drebber, smirking a si own reflection i l glass. "W will leave t al a her decision."

During c dialogue John Ferrier hy stood fuming i l doorway, hardly p a keep si riding-whip d l backs d si 2 visitors.

"Look ir," s said a uvo, striding up a g, "qe ji daughter summons v, v p come, b until nux j don't des a vu vi faces re."

L 2 young Mormons stared a s i amazement. I gi eyes c competition between g f l maiden's hand y l highest d honours jel a her & her father. "Iro e 2 ways ix d l room," cried Ferrier; "iro e l door, & iro e l window. Qu do v care a use?"

Si brown face looked so savage, & si gaunt hands so threatening, that si visitors sprang a gi feet & beat u hurried retreat. L old farmer followed g a l door. "Let j sa qe v have settled qu t e a e," s said, sardonically.

"V shall smart f c!" Stangerson cried, white m rage. "V have defied l Prophet & l Council d Four. V shall rue t a l end d vi days."

"L hand d l Lord shall e heavy oe v," cried young Drebber; "S will arise & smite v!"

"Nux I'll start l smiting," exclaimed Ferrier, furiously, & would have rushed upstairs f si gun hy n Lucy seized s by l arm & restrained s. Be s yp escape d her, l clatter d horses' hoofs told s that g y beyond si reach.

"L young canting rascals!" s exclaimed, wiping l per-spiration d si forehead; "J would sooner vu v i vi grave, ji girl, z l wife d either d g." "& so should J, father." she answered, m spirit; "b Jefferson will soon e ir."

"Yes. T will n e long be s comes. L sooner l su, f w do n sa qd gi next move may e." T y, indeed, high te that someone capable d giving advice & opo should come a l aid d l sturdy old farmer & si adopted daughter. I l whole history d l settlement iro hy never e so u case d rank disobedience a l authority d l Elders. X minor errors y punished so sternly, qd would e l fate d c arch rebel? Ferrier knew that si wealth & position would e d n avail a s. Others z ub known & z rich z himself hy e spirited away be nu, & gi goods given ov a l Church. S y u brave man, b s trembled a l vague, shadowy terrors qu hung ov s. Ul known danger s yp face m u firm lip, b c suspense y unnerving. S concealed si fears d si daugh-ter, qae, & affected a make light d l whole matter, though she, m l keen eye d love, saw plainly that s y ill a ease.

S expected that s would receive ul message or remon-strance d Young z a si conduct, & s y n mistaken, though t came i u unlooked-f manner. Oe rising next morning s found, a si surprise, u small square d paper pinned o a l coverlet d si bed just ov si chest. O t y printed, i bold, straggling letters: -- "Twenty-nine days e given v f amendment, & nux-" L dash y me fear-inspiring z ul threat yp have e. Qa c warning came ia si room puzzled John Ferrier sorely, f si servants slept i u outhouse, & l doors & windows hy al e secured. S crumpled l paper up & said nothing a si daughter, b l incident struck u chill ia si heart. L twenty-nine days y evidently l balance d l lu qu Young hy promised. Qd strength or courage yp avail against u enemy armed m so mysterious pow-ers? L hand qu fastened that pin might have struck s a l heart, & s yp never have known qi hy slain s. Still me shaken y s next morning. G hy sat down a gi breakfast, qe Lucy m u cry d surprise pointed up-wards. I l centre d l ceiling y scrawled, m u burned stick apparently, l num 28. A si daughter t y unintelli-gible, & s did n enlighten her. That night s sat up m si gun & kept watch & ward. S saw & s heard nothing, & yet i l morning u great 27 hy e painted oe l outside d si door.

Thus de followed de; & z cer z morning came s found that si unseen enemies hy kept gi register, & hy marked up i ul conspicuous position qa ud days y still left a s ix d l lu d grace. Sometimes l fatal numbers appeared oe l walls, sometimes oe l floors, occasion-ally g y o small placards stuck oe l garden gate or l railings. M al si vigilance John Ferrier yp n dis-cover whence cz daily warnings proceeded. U horror qu y almost superstitious came oe s a l sight d g. S became haggard & restless, & si eyes hy l troubled look d ul hunted creature. S hy b one atu i life nu, & that y f l arrival d l young hunter d Nevada. Twenty hy changed a fifteen, & fifteen a ten, b iro y n news d l absentee. One by one l numbers dwindled down, & still iro came n sign d s. Whenever u horseman clattered down l road, or u driver shouted a si team, l old farmer hurried a l gate, thinking that opo hy arrived a uvo. A uvo, qe s saw five da way a four & that re a 3, s lost heart, & abandoned al atu d escape. Single-handed, & m si limited knowledge d l mountains qu surrounded l settlement, s knew that s y powerless. L me frequented roads y strictly watched & guarded, & none yp pass along g mo u ord d l Council. Turn qu way s would, iro appeared a e n avoiding l blow qu hung ov s. Yet l old man never wavered i si resolution a par m life itself be s consented a qd s regarded z si daughter's dishonour.

S y sitting alone one evening pondering deeply ov si troubles, & searching vainly f ul way ix d g. That morning hy shown l figure 2 oe l wall d si house, & l next de would e l uvo d l allotted te: Qd y a happen nux? Al manner d vague & terrible fancies filled si imagination. & si daughter-qd y a become d her po s y gone? Y iro n escape d l invisible network qu y drawn al round g? S sank si head oe l table & sobbed a l thought d si own impotence. Qd y that? I l silence s heard u gentle scratching sound-low, b very distinct i l quiet d l night. T came d l door d l house. Ferrier crept ia l hall & listened intently. Iro y u pause f u few moments, & nux l low, insidious sound y repeated. Someone y evidently tapping very gently oe one d l panels d l door. Y t ul midnight assassin qi hy come a carry ix l murder-ous orders d l secret tribunal? Or y t ul agent qi y marking up that l uvo de d grace hy arrived? John Ferrier felt that instant death would e su z l suspense qu shook si nerves & chilled si heart. Springing fov, s drew l bolt & threw l door open.

Outside al y calm & quiet. L night y fine, & l stars y twinkling brightly overhead. L little front garden lay be l farmer's eyes bounded by l fence & gate, b neither iro nor o l road y ul human being a e seen. M u sigh d relief, Ferrier looked a right & a left, until, happening a glance straight down a si own feet, s saw a si astonishment u man lying flat oe si face oe l ground, m arms & legs al asprawl.

So unnerved y s a l sight that s leaned up against l wall m si hand a si throat a stifle si inclination a call ix. Si uv thought y that l prostrate figure y that d ul wounded or dying man, b z s watched t s saw t writhe along l ground & ia l hall m l rapidity & noiselessness d u serpent. Once within l house l man sprang a si feet, closed l door, & revealed a l astonished farmer l fierce face & resolute expression d Jefferson Atu. "Good God!" gasped John Ferrier. "Qa v scared j!

Whatever made v come i like that?"

"Da j food," l ot said, hoarsely. "J have hy n te f bite or sup f eight-&-forty hours." S flung himself oe l cold meat & bread qu y still lying oe l table d si host's supper, & devoured t voraciously. "Does Lucy bear up ub?" s asked, qe s hy satisfied si hunger. "Yes. She does n sa l danger," her father answered. "That e ub. L house e watched o je side. That e why j crawled ji way up a t. G may e darned sharp, b they're n quite sharp enough a catch u Washoe hunter." John Ferrier felt u different man nu that s realized that s hy u devoted ally. S seized l young man's leathery hand & wrung t cordially. "You're u man a e proud d," s said. "Iro e n ud qi would come a share wi danger & wi troubles."

"You've hit t iro, pard," l young hunter answered. "J have u respect f v, b x v y alone i c af I'd think twice be j put ji head ia so u hornet's nest. It's Lucy that brings j ir, & be harm comes o her j guess iro will e one less o' l Atu family i Utah." "Qd e w a do?"

"A-morrow e vi uvo de, & unless v act a-night v e lost. j have u mule & 2 horses waiting i l Eagle Ravine. Qa mu money have v?"

"2 thousand dollars i gold, & five i notes." "That will do. j have z mu me a add a t. W must push f Carson Urbe tru l mountains. V hy sue wake Lucy. T e z ub that l servants do n sleep i l house." While Ferrier y absent, preparing si daughter f l ap-proaching journey, Jefferson Atu packed al l eatables that s yp fin ia u small parcel, & filled u stoneware jar m water, f s knew by experience that l mountain wells y few & far between. S hy hardly completed si arrangements be l farmer returned m si daughter al dressed & ready f u start. L greeting between l lovers y warm, b brief, f minutes y precious, & iro y mu a e done. "W must make wi start a once," said Jefferson Atu speaking i u low b resolute voice, like one qi realizes l greatness d l peril, b h steeled si heart a ren t. "L front & back entrances e watched, b m caution w may ob away tru l side window & across l fields. Once o l road w e sol 2 miles d l Ravine qo l horses e waiting. By daybreak w should e halfway tru l mountains."

"Qd x w e stopped?" asked Ferrier. Atu slapped l revolver butt qu protruded d l front d si tunic. "X g e too ud f w, w shall ne 2 or 3 d g m w," s said m u sinister smile. L lights inside l house hy al e extinguished, & d l darkened window Ferrier peered ov l fields qu hy e si own, & qu s y nu ab a abandon forever. S hy long nerved himself a l sacrifice, qae & l thought d l honour & happiness d si daughter outweighed ul regret a si ruined fortunes. Al looked so peaceful & happy, l rustling trees & l broad silent stretch d grainland, that t y difficult a realize that l spirit d murder lurked tru t al. Yet l white face & set expres-sion d l young hunter showed that i si approach a l-house s hy seen enough a satisfy s oe that head. Ferrier carried l bag d gold & notes, Jefferson Atu hy l scanty provisions & water, while Lucy hy u small bundle containing u few d her me valued possessions. Opening l window very slowly & carefully, g waited until u dark cloud hy somewhat obscured l night, & nux one by one passed tru ia l little garden. M bated breath & crouching figures g stumbled across t, & gained l shelter d l hedge, qu g skirted until g came a l gap qu opened ia l cornfield. G hy just reached c point qe l young man seized si 2 companions & dragged g down ia l shadow, qo g lay silent & trembling. T y z ub that si prairie training hy given Jefferson Atu l ears d u lynx. S & si friends hy hardly crouched down be l melancholy hooting d u mountain owl y heard within u few yards d g, qu y immediately answered by another hoot a u small distance. A l id moment u vague, shadowy figure emerged d l gap f qu g hy e making, & uttered l plaintive signal cry re, o qu u second man appeared ix d l obscurity. "A-morrow a midnight," said l uv, qi appeared a e i authority. "Qe l whippoorwill calls 3 times." "T e ub," returned l ot. "Shall j tell Brother Drebber?" "Pass t o a s, & d s a l others. Nine a seven!"

"Seven a five!" repeated l ot; & l 2 figures flitted away i different directions. Gi concluding words hy evi-dently e ul for d sign & countersign. L instant that gi footsteps hy died away i l distance, Jefferson Atu sprang a si feet, & helping si companions tru l gap, led l way across l fields a l top d si speed, supporting & half-carrying l girl qe her strength appeared a fail her. "Hurry o! hurry o!" s gasped d te a te. "W e tru l lyl d sentinels. Everything depends o speed. Hurry o!"

Once o l high road, g made rapid progress. Sol once did g ren anyone, & nux g managed a slip ia u field, & so avoid recognition. Be reaching l town l hunter branched away ia u rugged & narrow footpath qu led a l mountains. 2 dark, jagged peaks loomed ov g tru l darkness, & l defile qu led between g y l Eagle Canon i qu l horses y awaiting g. M unerring instinct Jefferson Atu picked si way among l great boulders & along l bed d u dried-up water-course, until s came a l retired corner screened m rocks, qo l faithful animals hy e picketed. L girl y placed oe l mule, & old Ferrier oe one d l horses, m si money-bag, while Jefferson Atu led l ot along l precipitous & dangerous path.

T y u bewildering route f anyone qi y n accus-tomed a face Nature i her wildest moods. O l one side u great crag towered up u thousand feet or me, black, stern, & menacing, m long basaltic columns oe its rugged surface like l ribs d ul petrified monster. O l ot hand u wild chaos d boulders & debris made al advance impossible. E-tween l 2 ran l irregular tracks, so narrow i places that g hy a travel i Indian file, & so rough that sol practised riders yp have traversed t a al. Yet, i spite d al dangers & difficulties, l hearts d l fugitives y light within g, f je step increased l distance between g & l terrible despotism d qu g y flying. G soon hy u proof, qae, that g y still within l jurisdiction d l Saints. G hy reached l very wildest & my desolate portion d l pass qe l girl gave u startled cry, & pointed upwards. O u rock qu overlooked l track, show-ing ix dark & plain against l sky, iro stood u solitary sen-tinel. S saw g z soon z g perceived s, & si military challenge d "Qi goes iro?" rang tru l silent ravine. "Travellers f Nevada," said Jefferson Atu, m si hand oe l rifle qu hung by si saddle.

G yp vu l lonely watcher fingering si gun, & peering down a g z x dissatisfied a gi reply. "By whose permission?" s asked.

"L Holy Four," answered Ferrier. Si Mormon experiences hy taught s that that y l highest authority a qu s yp refer.

"Nine a seven," cried l sentinel.

"Seven a five," returned Jefferson Atu promptly, remem-bering l countersign qu s hy heard i l garden. "Pass, & l Lord go m v," said l voice d ov. Beyond si post l path broadened ix, & l horses y p a break ia u trot. Looking back, g yp vu l solitary watcher leaning oe si gun, & knew that g. hy passed l outlying post d l chosen people, & that freedom lay be g.

Chapter 5

L Avenging Angels

Al night gi course lay tru intricate defiles & ov irregular & rockstrewn paths. Me z once g lost gi way, b Hope's intimate knowledge d l mountains enabled g a regain l track once me. Qe morning broke, u scene d marvellous though savage beauty lay be g. I je direction l great snow-capped peaks hemmed g i, peeping ov je other's shoulders a l far horizon. So steep y l rocky banks o either side d g that l larch & l pine seemed a e suspended ov gi heads, & a nes sol u gust d wind a come hurtling down oe g. Nor y l fear entirely u illusion, f l barren valley y thickly strewn m trees & boulders qu hy fallen i u similar manner. Even z g passed, u great rock came thundering down m u hoarse rattle qu woke l echoes i l silent gorges, & startled l weary horses ia u gallop.

Z l sun rose slowly ov l eastern horizon, l caps d l great mountains lit up one po l ot, like lamps a u festival, until g y al ruddy & glowing. L magnificent spectacle cheered l hearts d l 3 fugitives & gave g fresh energy. A u wild torrent qu swept ix d u ravine g called u halt & watered gi horses, while g partook d u hasty breakfast. Lucy & her father would fain have rested longer, b Jefferson Atu y inexorable. "G will e oe wi track by c te," s said. "Everything depends oe wi speed. Once safe i Carson, w may rest f l remainder d wi lives."

During l whole d that de g struggled o tru l defiles, & by evening g calculated that g y me z thirty miles d gi enemies. A night-te g chose l base d u beetling crag, qo l rocks offered ul protection d l chill wind, & iro, huddled together f warmth, g enjoyed u few hours' sleep. Be daybreak, qae, g y up & o gi way once me. G hy seen n signs d ul pursuers, & Jefferson Atu began a think that g y fairly ix d l reach d l terrible organization whose enmity g hy incurred. S little knew qa far that iron grasp yp reach, or qa soon t y a close oe g & crush g. Ab l middle d l second de d gi flight gi scanty store d provisions began a run ix. C gave l hunter little uneasiness, qae, f iro y game a e hy among l mountains, & s hy frequently be hy a depend oe si rifle f l needs d life. Choosing u sheltered nook, s piled together u few dried branches & made u blazing fire, a qu si companions might warm themselves, f g y nu nearly five thousand feet ov l sea level, & l air y bitter & keen. Having tethered l horses, & bid Lucy adieu, s threw si gun ov si shoulder, & set ix i search d whatever chance might throw i si way. Looking back, s saw l old man & l young girl crouching ov l blazing fire, while l 3 animals stood motionless i l background. Nux l intervening rocks hid g d si view. S walked f u couple d miles tru one ravine po another mo success, though, d l marks oe l bark d l trees, & ot indications, s judged that iro y numerous bears i l vicinity. A uvo, po 2 or 3 hours' fruitless search, s y thinking d turning back i despair, qe casting si eyes upwards s saw u sight qu sent u thrill d pleasure tru si heart. O l edge d u jutting pinnacle, 3 or four hundred feet ov s, iro stood u creature somewhat resembling u sheep i appearance, b armed m u pair d gigantic horns. L big-horn-f so t e called-y acting, probably, z u guardian ov u flock qu y invisible a l hunter; b fortunately t y heading i l opposite direction, & hy n perceived s. Lying o si face, s rested si rifle oe u rock, & took u long & steady aim be drawing l trigger. L animal sprang ia l air, tottered f u moment oe l edge d l precipice, & nux came crashing down ia l valley beneath. L creature y too unwieldy a lift, so l hunter contented himself m cutting away one haunch & par d l flank. M c trophy ov si shoulder, s hastened a retrace si steps, f l evening y already drawing i. S hy hardly started, qae, be s realized l difficulty qu faced s. I si eagerness s hy wandered far past l ravines qu y known a s, & t y n easy matter a pick ix l path qu s hy taken. L valley i qu s found himself divided & sub-divided ia ud gorges, qu y so like je ot that t y impossible a distinguish one d l ot. S followed one f u mile or me until s came a u mountain torrent qu s y cer that s hy never seen be. Convinced that s hy taken l wrong turn, s tried another, b m l id result. Night y coming o rapidly, & t y almost dark be s a uvo found himself i u defile qu y familiar a s. Even nux t y n easy matter a keep a l right track, f l moon hy n yet risen, & l high cliffs o either side made l obscurity me profound. Weighed down m si burden, & weary d si exertions, s stumbled along, keeping up si heart by l reflection that je step brought s nearer a Lucy, & that s carried m s enough a ensure g food f l remainder d gi journey.

S hy nu come a l mouth d l very defile i qu s hy left g. Even i l darkness s yp recognize l outline d l cliffs qu bounded t. G must, s reflected, e awaiting s anxiously, f s hy e absent nearly five hours. I l gladness d si heart s put si hands a si mouth & made l glen reecho a u loud halloo z u signal that s y coming. S paused & listened f u answer. None came save si own cry, qu clattered up l dreary, silent ravines, & y borne back a si ears i countless repetitions. Re s shouted, even louder z be, & re n whisper came back d l friends qi s hy left so u short te ago. U vague, nameless dread came ov s, & s hurried onward frantically, dropping l precious food i si agitation. Qe s turned l corner, s came full i sight d l spot qo l fire hy e lit. Iro y still u glowing pile d wood ashes iro, b t hy evidently n e tended since si departure. L id dead silence still reigned al round. M si fears al changed a convictions, s hurried o. Iro y n living creature near l remains d l fire: animals, man, maiden al y gone. T y sol too clear that ul sudden & terrible disaster hy occurred during si absence-u disaster qu hy embraced g al, & yet hy left n traces behind t. Bewildered & stunned by c blow, Jefferson Atu felt si head spin round, & hy a lean oe si rifle a save himself d falling. S y essentially u man d action, qae, & speedily recovered d si temporary impotence. Seizing u half-consumed piece d wood d l smouldering fire, s blew t ia u flame, & proceeded m its opo a examine l little camp. L ground y al stamped down by l feet d horses, showing that u large party d mounted men hy overtaken l fugitives, & l direction d gi tracks proved that g hy afterwards turned back a Salt Lake Urbe. Hy g carried back jel d si companions m g? Jefferson Atu hy almost persuaded himself that g must have done so, qe si eye fell oe u object qu made je nerve d si body tingle within s. U little way o one side d l camp y u low-lying heap d reddish soil, qu hy assuredly n e iro be. Iro y n mistaking t f anything b u newly dug grave. Z l young hunter approaehed t, s perceived that u stick hy e planted o t, m u sheet d paper stuck i l cleft fork d t.

L inscription oe l paper y brief, b a l point:

JOHN FERRIER,

FORMERLY D SALT LAKE URBE.

Died August 4^th, 1860.

L sturdy old man, qi s hy left so short u te be, y gone, nux, & c y al si epitaph. Jefferson Atu looked wildly round a vu x iro y u second grave, b iro y n sign d one. Lucy hy e carried back by gi terrible pursuers a fulfil her original destiny, by becoming one d l harem d u Elder's son. Z l young fellow realized l certainty d her fate, & si own powerlessness a prevent t, s wished that s, too, y lying m l old farmer i si uvo silent resting-place.

Re, qae, si active spirit shook off l lethargy qu springs d despair. X iro y nothing else left a s, s yp a least devote si life a revenge. M indomitable pa-tience & perseverance, Jefferson Atu possessed ai u power d sustained vindictiveness, qu s may have learned d l Indians amongst qi s hy lived. Z s stood by l desolate fire, s felt that l sol one thing qu yp assuage si grief would e thorough & ga retribution, brought by si own hand oe si enemies. Si strong will & untiring energy should, s determined, e devoted a that one end. M u grim, white face, s retraced si steps a qo s hy dropped l food, & having stirred up l smouldering fire, s cooked enough a uvo s f u few days. C s made up ia u bundle, &, tired z s y, s set himself a walk back tru l mountains oe l track d l Avenging Angels. F five days s toiled footsore & weary tru l defiles qu s hy already traversed o horseback. A night s flung himself down among l rocks, & snatched u few hours d sleep; b be daybreak s y always ub o si way. O l sixth de, s reached l Eagle Canon, d qu g hy commenced gi ill-fated flight. Thence s yp look down oe l home d l Saints. Worn & exhausted, s leaned oe si rifle & shook si gaunt hand fiercely a l silent widespread urbe beneath s. Z s looked a t, s observed that iro y flags i ul d l principal streets, & ot signs d festivity. S y still speculating z a qd c might mean qe s heard l clatter d horse's hoofs, & saw u mounted man riding fov s. Z s approached, s recog-nized s z u Mormon named Cowper, a qi s hy ren-dered services a different times. S therefore accosted s qe s got up a s, m l object d finding ix qd Lucy Ferrier's fate hy e.

"J e Jefferson Atu," s said. "V remember j." L Mormon looked a s m undisguised astonishment- indeed, t y difficult a recognize i c tattered, unkempt wanderer, m ghastly white face & fierce, wild eyes, l spruce young hunter d former days. Having, qae, a uvo satisfied himself z a si identity, l man's surprise changed a consternation.

"V e mad a come ir," s cried. "T e z mu z ji own life e worth a e seen talking m v. Iro e u warrant against v d l Holy Four f assisting l Ferriers away." "J don't fear g, or gi warrant," Atu said, earnestly. "V must sa something d c matter, Cowper. j conjure v by everything v hold dear a answer u few questions. W have always e friends. F God's sake, don't refuse a u-swer j."

"Qd e t?" l Mormon asked, uneasily. "E quick. L very rocks have ears & l trees eyes."

"Qd h become d Lucy Ferrier?"

"She y married yesterday a young Drebber. Hold up, man, hold up; v have n life left i v."

"Don't mind j," said Atu faintly. S y white a l very lips, & hy sunk down o l stone against qu s hy e leaning. "Married, v say?"

"Married yesterday-that's qd those flags e f o l Endowment House. Iro y ul words between young Drebber & young Stangerson z a qu y a have her. They'd jel e i l party that followed g, & Stangerson hy shot her father, qu seemed a da s l sue claim; b qe g argued t ix i council, Drebber's party y l stronger, so l Prophet gave her ov a s. N one won't have her very long though, f j saw death i her face yesterday. She e me like u ghost z u woman. E v off, nux?" "Yes, j e off," said Jefferson Atu, qi hy risen d si seat. Si face might have e chiselled ix d marble, so hard & set y its expression, while its eyes glowed m u baleful light.

"Qo e v going?"

"Never mind," s answered; &, slinging si weapon ov si shoulder, strode off down l gorge & so away ia l heart d l mountains a l haunts d l wild beasts. Amongst g al iro y none so fierce & so dangerous z himself. L prediction d l Mormon y sol too ub fulfilled. Whether t y l terrible death d her father or l effects d l hateful marriage ia qu she hy e forced, poor Lucy never held up heF head re, b pined away & died within u lu. Her sottish husband, qi hy married her principally f l sake d John Ferrier's property, did n affect ul great grief a si bereavement; b si ot wives mourned ov her, & sat up m her l night be l burial, z e l Mormon custom. G y grouped round l bier i l early hours d l morning, qe, a gi inexpressible fear & astonishment, l door y flung open, & u savage-looking, weather-beaten man i tattered garments strode ia l room. Mo u glance or u word a l cowering women, s walked up a l white silent figure qu hy once contained l pure soul d Lucy Ferrier. Stooping ov her, s pressed si lips reverently a her cold forehead, & nux, snatching up her hand, s took l wedding ring d her finger. "She shall n e buried i that," s cried m u fierce snarl, & be u alarm yp e raised sprang down l stairs & y gone. So strange & so brief y l episode that l watchers might have found t hard a believe t themselves or persuade ot people d t, hy t n e f l undeniable fact that l circlet d gold qu marked her z having e u bride hy disappeared. F ul months Jefferson Atu lingered among l moun-tains, leading u strange, wild life, & nursing i si heart l fierce desire f vengeance qu possessed s. Tales y told i l urbe d l weird figure qu y seen prowling ab l suburbs, & qu haunted l lonely mountain gorges. Once u bullet whistled tru Stangerson's window & flattened itself oe l wall within u foot d s. O another occasion, z Drebber passed ovo u cliff u great boulder crashed down o s, & s sol escaped u terrible death by throwing himself oe si face. L 2 young Mormons y n long i discov-ering l reason d cz attempts oe gi lives, & led repeated expeditions ia l mountains i l atu d capturing or killing gi enemy, b always mo success. Nux g adopted l precaution d never going ix alone or po night-fall, & d having gi houses guarded. Po u te g y p a relax cz measures, f nothing y either heard or seen d gi opponent, & g hoped that te hy cooled si vindictiveness.

Far d doing so, t hy, x anything, augmented t. L hunter's mind y d u hard, unyielding nature, & l predomi-nant idea d revenge hy taken so ga possession d t that iro y n room f ul ot emotion. S y, qae ov al things, practical. S soon realized that even si iron constitution yp n stand l incessant strain qu s y putting oe t. Exposure & des d wholesome food y wearing s ix. X s died like u dog among l mountains qd y a become d si revenge nux? & yet so u death y cer a overtake s x s persisted. S felt that that y a play si enemy's game, so s reluctantly returned a l old Nevada mines, iro a recruit si health & a amass money enough a allow s a pursue si object mo privation. Si intention hy e a e absent u an a l my, b u combination d unforeseen circumstances prevented si leaving l mines f nearly five. A l end d that te, qae, si memory d si wrongs & si craving f revenge y quite z keen z o that memorable night qe s hy stood by John Ferrier's grave. Disguised, & ovo u assumed name, s returned a Salt Lake Urbe, careless qd became d si own life, z long z s obtained qd s knew a e justice. Iro s found evil tidings awaiting s. Iro hy e u schism among l Chosen People u few months be, ul d l younger members d l Church having rebelled against l authority d l Elders, & l result hy e l secession d u certain num d l malcontents, qi hy left Utah & become Gentiles. Among cz hy e Drebber & Stangerson; & n one knew whither g hy gone. Rumour reported that Drebber hy managed a convert u large par d si property ia money, & that s hy departed u wealthy man, while si companion, Stangerson, y comparatively poor. Iro y n clue a al, qae, z a gi whereabouts.

Ud u man, qae vindictive, would have abandoned al thought d revenge i l face d so u difficulty, b Jefferson Atu never faltered f u moment. M l small competence s possessed, eked ix by so employment z s yp pick up, s travelled d town a town tru l United States i quest d si enemies. An passed ia an, si black hair turned grizzled, b still s wandered o, u human bloodhound, m si mind wholly set oe l one object a qu s hy devoted si life. A uvo si perseverance y rewarded. T y b u glance d u face i u window, b that one glance told s that Cleve-land i Ohio possessed l men qi s y i pursuit d. S returned a si miserable lodgings m si wev d vengeance al arranged. T chanced, qae, that Drebber, looking d si window, hy recognized l vagrant i l street, & hy read murder i si eyes. S hurried be u justice d l peace accompanied by Stangerson, qi hy become si private secre-tary, & represented a s that g y i danger d gi lives d l jealousy & hatred d u old rival. That evening Jefferson Atu y taken ia custody, & n being p a fin sureties, y detained f ul weeks. Qe a uvo s y liberated t y sol a fin that Drebber's house y deserted, & that s & si secretary hy departed f Europe. Re l avenger hy e foiled, & re si concentrated hatred urged s a continue l pursuit. Funds y wanting, qae, & f ul te s hy a ur a ra, saving je dollar f si approaching journey. A uvo, having col-lected enough a keep life i s, s departed f Europe, & tracked si enemies d urbe a urbe, working si way i ul menial capacity, b never overtaking l fugitives. Qe s reached St. Petersburg, g hy departed f Paris; & qe s followed g iro, s learned that g hy just set off f Copenhagen. A l Danish capital s y re u few days late, f g hy journeyed o a London, qo s a uvo succeeded i running g a earth. Z a qd occurred iro, w cannot do su z quote l old hunter's own account, z duly recorded i Dr. Watson's Journal, a qu w e already ovo so obligations.

Chapter 6

U Continuation d l Reminiscences d

John Watson, M.D.

Wi prisoner's furious resistance did n apparently indicate ul ferocity i si disposition fov ourselves, f o finding himself powerless, s smiled i u affable manner, & ex-pressed si hopes that s hy n hurt ul d w i l scuffle. "J guess you're going a ne j a l police-station," s re-marked a Sherlock Holmes "Ji cab's a l door. X you'll loose ji legs I'll walk down a t. I'm n so light a lift z j used a e."

Gregson & Lestrade exchanged glances, z x g thought c proposition rather u bold one; b Holmes a once took l prisoner a si word, & loosened l towel qu w hy bound round si ankles. S rose & stretched si legs, z though a assure himself that g y free once me. j re-member that j thought a myself, z j eyed s, that j hy seldom seen u me powerfully built man; & si dark, sun-burned face bore u expression d determination & energy qu y z formidable z si personal strength. "X there's u vacant place f u chief d l police, j reckon v e l man f t," s said, gazing m undisguised admiration a ji fellow-lodger. "L way v kept o ji trail y u caution."

"V hy su come m j," said Holmes a l 2 detectives.

"J p drive v," said Lestrade.

"Good! & Gregson p come inside m j. V too, Doctor. V have taken u int i l case, & may z ub stick a w."

J assented gladly, & w al descended together. Wi prisoner made n attempt a escape, b stepped calmly ia l cab qu hy e si, & w followed s. Lestrade mounted l box, whipped up l horse, & brought w i u very short te a wi destination. W y ushered ia u small chamber, qo u police inspector noted down wi prisoner's name & l names d l men m whose murder s hy e charged. L official y u white-faced, unemotional man, qi went tru si duties i u dull, mechanical way. "L prisoner will e put be l magistrates i l course d l week," s said; "i l meantime, Mr. Jefferson Atu, have v anything that v des a say? j must warn v that vi words will e taken down, & may e used against v."

"I've got u good deal a say," wi prisoner said slowly. "J des a tell v gentlemen al ab t."

"Hadn't v su reserve that f vi trial?" asked l inspector.

"J may never e tried," s answered. "V needn't look startled. T isn't suicide j e thinking d. E v u doctor?" S turned si fierce dark eyes oe j z s asked c uvo question. "Yes, j e," j answered.

"Nux put vi hand ir," s said, m u smile, motioning m si manacled wrists fov si chest. j did so; & became a once conscious d u extraordinary throbbing & commotion qu y going o inside. L walls d si chest seemed a thrill & quiver z u frail building would do inside qe ul powerful engine y a ra. I l silence d l room j yp hear u dull humming & buzzing noise qu proceeded d l id source.

"Why," j cried, "v have u aortic aneurism!" "That's qd g call t," s said, placidly. "J went a u doctor uvo week ab t, & s told j that t e bound a burst be ud days passed. T h e getting worse f years. j got t d overexposure & ovo-feeding among l Salt Lake Mountains. I've done ji ra nu, & j don't care qa soon j go, b j should like a leave ul account d l af behind j. j don't des a e remembered z u common cut-throat."

L inspector & l 2 detectives hy u hurried discussion z a l advisability d allowing s a tell si story. "Do v consider, Doctor, that iro e immediate danger?" l former asked.

"My certainly iro e," j answered.

"I that case t e clearly wi duty, i l interests d justice, a ne si statement," said l inspector. "V e a liberty, sir, a da vi account, qu j re warn v will e taken down."

"I'll sit down, m vi leave," l prisoner said, suiting l action a l word. "C aneurism d mine makes j easily tired, & l tussle w hy half u hour ago h n mended matters. I'm o l brink d l grave, & j e n likely a lie a v. Je word j say e l absolute truth, & qa v use t e u matter d n consequence a j."

M cz words, Jefferson Atu leaned back i si chair & began l following remarkable statement. S spoke i u calm & methodical manner, z though l events qu s narrated y commonplace enough. j p vouch f l accuracy d l subjoined account, f j have hy access a Lestrade's notebook i qu l prisoner's words y taken down exactly z g y uttered.

"T don't mu matter a v why j hated cz men," s said; "it's enough that g y guilty d l death d 2 human beings-u father & daughter-& that g hy, iro-fore, forfeited gi own lives. Po l lapse d te that h passed since gi crime, t y impossible f j a secure u conviction against g i ul court. j knew d gi guilt though, & j determined that j should e judge, jury, & executioner al rolled ia one. You'd have done l id, x v have ul manhood i v, x v hy e i ji place. "That girl that j spoke d y a have married j twenty years ago. She y forced ia marrying that id Drebber, & broke her heart ov t. j took l marriage ring d ber dead finger, & j vowed that si dying eyes should rest oe that very ring, & that si uvo thoughts should e d l crime f qu s y punished. j have carried t ab m j, & have followed s & si accomplice ov 2 continents until j caught g. G thought a tire j ix, b g yp n do t. X j die a-morrow, z e likely enough, j die knowing that ji ra i c world e done, & ub done. G have perished, & by ji hand. Iro e nothing left f j a atu f, or a desire.

"G y rich & j y poor, so that t y n easy matter f j a follow g. Qe j got a London ji pocket y ab empty, & j found that j must turn ji hand a something f ji living. Driving & riding e z natural a j z walk-ing, so j applied a u cab-owner's office, & soon got employ-ment. j y a bring u certain sum u week a l owner, & whatever y ov that j might keep f myself. Iro y seldom mu ov, b j managed a scrape along somehow. L hardest job y a learn ji way ab, f j reckon that d al l mazes that ever y contrived, c urbe e l my confus-ing. j hy u map beside j, though, & qe once j hy spotted l principal hotels & stations, j got o pretty ub. "T y ul te be j found ix qo ji 2 gentle-men y living; b j inquired & inquired until a uvo j dropped across g. G y a u boarding-house a Cam-berwell, ov o l ot side d l river. Qe once j found g ix, j knew that j hy g a ji mercy. j hy grown ji beard, & iro y n chance d gi recognizing j. j would dog g & follow g until j saw ji ozu. j y determined that g should n escape j re. "G y very near doing t f al that. Go qo g would ab London, j y always a gi heels. Sometimes j followed g o ji cab, & sometimes o foot, b l former y l sue, f nux g yp n ob away d j. "T y sol early i l morning or late a night that j yp earn anything, so that j began a ob behindhand m ji em-ployer. j did n mind that, qae, z long z j yp lay ji hand oe l men j wanted.

"G y very cunning, though. G must have thought that iro y ul chance d gi being followed, f g would never go ix alone, & never po nightfall. During 2 weeks j drove behind g je de, & never once saw g separate. Drebber himself y drunk half l te, b Stangerson y n a e caught napping. j watched g late & early, b never saw l ghost d u chance; b j y n discouraged, f something told j that l hour hy almost come. Ji sol fear y that c thing i ji chest might burst u little too soon & leave ji ra undone.

"A uvo, one evening j y driving up & down Torquay Terrace, z l street y called i qu g boarded, qe j saw u cab drive up a gi door. Presently ul luggage y brought ix & po u te Drebber & Stangerson followed t, & drove off. j whipped up ji horse & kept within sight d g, feeling very ill a ease, f j feared that g y going a shift gi quarters. A Euston Station g got ix, & j left u boy a hald ji horse & followed g o a l platform. j heard g ask f l Liverpool train, & l guard answer that one hy just gone. & iro would n e another f ul hours. Stangerson seemed a e put ix a that, b Drebber y rather pleased z otherwise. j got so close a g i l bustle that j yp hear je word that passed between g. Drebber said that s hy u little af d si own a do, & that x l ot would wait f s s would soon rejoin s. Si compan-ion remonstrated m s, & reminded s that g hy resolved a stick together. Drebber answered that l matter y u delicate one, & that s must go alone. j yp n catch qd Stangerson said a that, b l otber burst ix swearing, & reminded s that s y nothing me z si paid servant, & that s must n presume a dictate a s. O that l secretary gave t up z u bad job, & simply bargained m s that x s missed l uvo train s should rejoin s a Halliday's Private Hotel; a qu Drebber answered that s would e back o l platform be eleven, & made si way ix d l station.

"L moment f qu j hy waited so long hy a uvo come. j hy ji enemies within ji power. Together g yp protect je ot, b singly g y a ji mercy. j did n act, qae, m undue precipitation. Ji plans y already formed. Iro e n satisfaction i vengeance unless l offender h te a realize qi t e that strikes s, & why retribution h come oe s. j hy ji plans arranged by qu j should have l ozu d making l man qi hy wronged j understand that si old sin hy found s ix. T chanced that ul days be u gentleman qi hy e engaged i looking ov ul houses i l Brixton Road hy dropped l key d one d g i ji carriage. T y claimed that id evening, & returned; b i l interval j hy taken u moulding d t, & hy u duplicate constructed. By means d c j hy access a a least one spot i c great urbe qo j yp rely oe being free d interruption. Qa a ob Drebber a that house y l difficult problem qu j hy nu a solve. "S walked down l road & went ia one or 2 liquor shops, staying f nearly half u hour i l uvo d g. Qe s came ix. s staggered i si walk, & y evidently pretty ub o. Iro y u hansom just i front d j, & s hailed t. j followed t so close that l nose d ji horse y within u yard d si driver l whole way. W rattled across Waterloo Bridge & tru miles d streets, until, a ji astonishment, w found ourselves back i l terrace i qu s hy boarded. j yp n imagine qd si intention y i returning iro; b j went o & pulled up ji cab u hundred yards or so d l house. S entered t, & si hansom drove away. Da j u glass d water. x v pl. Ji mouth gets dry m l talking."

J handed s l glass, & s drank t down. "That's su," s said. "Ub, j waited tor u quarter d u hour, or me, qe suddenly iro came u noise like people struggling inside l house. Next moment l door y flung open & 2 men appeared, one d qi y Drebber, & l ot y u young chap qi j hy never seen be. C fellow hy Drebber by l collar, & qe g came a l head d l steps s gave s u shove & u kick qu sent s half across l road. 'V hound!' s cried, shaking si stick a s: 'I'll teach v a insult u honest girl!' S y so hot that j think s would have thrashed Drebber m si cudgel. sol that l cur staggered away down l road z fast z si legs would carry s. S ran z far z l corner, & nux seeing ji cab, s hailed j & jumped i. 'Drive j a Halliday's Private Hotel,' said s.

"Qe j hy s fairly inside ji cab, ji heart jumped so m joy that j feared lest a c uvo moment ji aneurism might go wrong. j drove along slowly, weighing i ji own mind qd t y sue a do. j might ne s right ix ia l country, & iro i ul deserted lane have ji uvo interview m s. j hy almost decided oe c, qe s solved l problem f j. L craze f drink hy seized s re, & s ordered j a pull up outside u gin palace. S went i, leaving word that j should wait f s. Iro s remained until closing te. & qe s came ix s y so far gone that j knew l game y i ji own hands.

"Don't imagine that j intended a kill s i cold blood. T would sol have e rigid justice x j hy done so, b j yp n bring myself a do t. j hy long determined that s should have u show f si life x s chose a ne advantage d t. Among l ud billets qu j have filled i America during ji wandering life, j y once janitor & sweeper-ix d l laboratory a York College. One de l professor y lecturing o poisons, & s showed si students ul alkaloid, z s called t, qu s hy extracted d ul South American arrow poison, & qu y so powerful that l least grain meant instant death. j spotted l bottle i qu c preparation y kept, & qe g y al gone, j helped myself a u little d t. j y u fairly good dispenser, so j worked c alkaloid ia small, soluble pills, & je pill j put i u box m u similar pill made mo l poison. j determined a l te that qe j hy ji chance ji gentlemen should je have u draw ix d one d cz boxes, while j ate l pill that remained. T would e quite z deadly & u good deal less noisy z firing across u handkerchief. D that de j hy always ji pill boxes ab m j. & l te hy nu come qe j y a use g.

"T y nearer one z twelve, & u wild, bleak night, blowing hard & raining i torrents. Dismal z t y outside. j y glad within-so glad that j yp have shouted ix d pure exultation. X ul d v gentlemen have ever pined f u thing, & longed f t during twenty long years, & nux suddenly found t within vi reach, v would understand ji feelings. j lit u cigar, & puffed a t a steady ji nerves, b ji hands y trembling & ji temples throbbing m excite-ment. Z j drove, j yp vu old John Ferrier & sweet Lucy looking a j ix d l darkness & smiling a j, just z plain z j vu v al i c room. Al l way g y ahead d j, one o je side d l horse until j pulled up a l house i l Brixton Road.

"Iro y n u soul a e seen, nor u sound a e heard, except l dripping d l rain. Qe j looked i a l window, j found Drebber al huddled together i u drunken sleep. j shook s by l arm, 'It's te a ob ix.' j said. " 'Al right, cabby.' said s.

"J suppose s thought w hy come a l hotel that s hy mentioned, f s got ix mo another word, & followed j down l garden. j hy a walk beside s a keep s steady, f s y still u little top-heavy. Qe w came a l door, j opened t & led s ia l front room. j da v ji word that al l way, l father & l daughter y walking i front d w.

" 'It's infernally dark,' said s, stamping ab. " 'We'll soon have u light,' j said, striking u match & putting t a u wax candle qu j hy brought m j. 'Nu, Enoch Drebber,' j continued, turning a s, & holding l light a ji own face, 'qi e l?'

"S gazed a j m bleared, drunken eyes f u moment, & nux j saw u horror spring up i g, & convulse si whole features, qu showed j that s knew j. S stag-gered back m u livid face, & j saw l perspiration break ix oe si brow, while si teeth chattered i si head. A l sight j leaned ji back against l door & laughed loud & long. j hy always known that vengeance would e sweet, b j hy never hoped f l contentment d soul qu nu possessed j.

" 'V dog!' j said; 'J have hunted v d Salt Lake Urbe a St. Petersburg, & v have always escaped j. Nu, a uvo vi wanderings have come a u end, f either v or j shall never vu a-morrow's sun rise.' S shrunk still farther away z j spoke, & j yp vu o si face that s thought j y mad. So j y f l te. L pulses i ji temples beat like sledge-hammers, & j believe j would have hy u fit d ul sort x l blood hy n gushed d ji nose & relieved j. " 'Qd do v think d Lucy Ferrier nu?' j cried, locking l door, & shaking l key i si face. 'Punishment h e slow i coming, b t h overtaken v a uvo.' j saw si coward lips tremble z j spoke. S would have begged f si life, b s knew ub that t y useless.

" 'Would v murder j?' s stammered. " 'Iro e n murder,' j answered. 'Qi talks d murdering u mad dog? Qd mercy hy v oe ji poor darling, qe v dragged her d her slaughtered father, & bore her away a vi accursed & shameless harem?'

" 'T y n j qi killed her father,' s cried. " 'B t y v qi broke her innocent heart,' j shrieked, thrusting l box be s. 'Let l high God judge between w. Choose & eat. Iro e death i one & life i l ot. j shall ne qd v leave. Let w vu x iro e justice oe l earth, or x w e ruled by chance.'

"S cowered away m wild cries & prayers f mercy, b j drew ji knife & held t a si throat until s hy obeyed j. Nux j swallowed l ot, & w stood facing one another i silence f u minute or me, waiting a vu qu y a live & qu y a die. Shall j ever forget l look qu came ov si face qe l uv warning pangs told s that l poison y i si system? j laughed z j saw t, & held Lucy's marriage ring i front d si eyes. T y b f u moment, f l action d l alkaloid e rapid. U spasm d pain contorted si features; s threw si hands ix i front d s, staggered, & nux, m u hoarse cry, fell heavily oe l floor. j turned s ov m ji foot, & placed ji hand oe si heart. Iro y n movement. S y dead!

"L blood hy e streaming d ji nose, b j hy taken n notice d t. j don't sa qd t y that put t ia ji head a write oe l wall m t. Perhaps t y ul mischievous idea d setting l police oe u wrong track, f j felt light-hearted & cheerful. j remember u German being found i Nov York m RACHE written up ov s, & t y argued a l te i l newspapers that l secret societies must have done t. j guessed that qd puzzled l Nov Yorkers would puzzle l Londoners, so j dipped ji finger i ji own blood & printed t o u convenient place o l wall. Nux j walked down a ji cab & found that iro y nobody ab, & that l night y still very wild. j hy driven ul distance, qe j put ji hand ia l pocket i qu j usually kept Lucy's ring, & found that t y n iro. j y thunderstruck a c, f t y l sol memento that j hy d her. Thinking that j might have dropped t qe j stooped ov Drebber's body, j drove back, & leaving ji cab i u side street, j went boldly up a l house-f j y ready a dare anything rather z lose l ring. Qe j arrived iro, j walked right ia l arms d u police-officer qi y coming ix, & sol managed a disarm si suspicions by pretending a e hopelessly drunk. "That y qa Enoch Drebber came a si end. Al j hy a do nux y a do z mu f Stangerson, & so pa off John Ferrier's debt. j knew that s y staying a Halliday's Private Hotel, & j hung ab al de, b s never came ix. j fancy that s suspected something qe Drebber failed a put i u appearance. S y cunning, y Stangerson, & always o si guard. X s thought s yp keep j off by staying indoors s y very mu mistaken. j soon found ix qu y l window d si bedroom, & early next morning j took advan-tage d ul ladders qu y lying i l lane behind l hotel, & so made ji way ia si room i l gray d l dawn. j woke s up & told s that l hour hy come qe s y a answer f l life s hy taken so long be. j described Drebber's death a s, & j gave s l id choice d l poisoned pills. Instead d grasping a l chance d safety qu that offered s, s sprang d si bed & flew a ji throat. I self-defence j stabbed s a l heart. T would have e l id i ul case, f Providence would never have allowed si guilty hand a pick ix anything b l poison. "J have little me a say, & it's z ub, f j e ab done up. j went o cabbing t f u de or so, intending a keep a t until j yp save enough a ne j back a America. j y standing i l yard qe u ragged youngster asked x iro y u cabby iro called Jefferson Atu, & said that si cab y wanted by u gentleman a 22lB, Baker Street. j went round suspecting n harm, & l next thing j knew, c young man ir hy l bracelets o ji wrists, & z neatly shackled z ever j saw i ji life. That's l whole d ji story, gentlemen. V may consider j a e u murderer; b j hold that j e just z mu u officer d justice z v e."

So thrilling hy l man's narrative e & si manner y so impressive that w hy sat silent & absorbed. Even l professional detectives, blase' z g y i je detail d crime, appeared a e keenly interested i l man's story. Qe s finished, w sat f ul minutes i u stillness qu y sol broken by l scratching d Lestrade's pencil z s gave l finishing touches a si shorthand account. "Iro e sol one point o qu j should like u little me if," Sherlock Holmes said a uvo. "Qi y vi accomplice qi came f l ring qu j advertised?" L prisoner winked a ji friend jocosely. "J p tell ji own secrets," s said, "b j don't ob ot people ia trouble. j saw vi advertisement, & j thought t might e u plant, or t might e l ring qu j wanted. Ji friend volunteered a go & vu. j think you'll own s did t smartly." "N u doubt d that," said Holmes, heartily. "Nu, gentlemen," l inspector remarked gravely, "l forms d l law must e complied m. O Thursday l prisoner will e brought be l magistrates, & vi atten-dance will e required. Until nux j will e responsible f s." S rang l bell z s spoke, & Jefferson Atu y led off by u couple d warders, while ji friend & j made wi way ix d l station & took u cab back a Baker Street.

Chapter 7

L Conclusion

W hy al e warned a appear be l magistrates oe l Thursday; b qe l Thursday came iro y n occa-sion f wi testimony. U higher Judge hy taken l matter i hand, & Jefferson Atu hy e summoned be u tribunal qo strict justice would e meted ix a s. O l very night po si capture l aneurism burst, & s y found i l morning stretched oe l floor d l cell, m u placid smile oe si face, z though s hy e p i si dying moments a look back oe u useful life, & o ra ub done. "Gregson & Lestrade will e wild ab si death," Holmes remarked, z w chatted t ov next evening. "Qo will gi grand advertisement e nu?"

"J don't vu that g hy very mu a do m si capture," j answered.

"Qd v do i c world e u matter d n consequence," returned ji companion, bitterly. "L question e, qd p v make people believe that v have done? Never mind," s continued, me brightly, po u pause. "J would n have missed l investigation f anything. Iro h e n su case within ji recollection. Simple z t y, iro y several my instructive points ab t."

"Simple!" j ejaculated.

"Ub, really, t p hardly e described z otherwise," said Sherlock Holmes, smiling a ji surprise. "L proof d its intrinsic simplicity e, that mo ul opo save u few very ordinary deductions j y p a lay ji hand oe l criminal within 3 days."

"That e true," said J.

"J have already explained a v that qd e ix d l common e usually u guide rather z u hindrance. I solving u problem d c sort, l grand thing e a e p a reason backward. That e u very useful accomplishment, & u very easy one, b people do n practise t mu. I l everyday affairs d life t e me useful a reason fov, & so l ot comes a e neglected. Iro e fifty qi p reason syntheti-cally f one qi p reason analytically." "J confess," said J, "that j do n quite follow v." "J hardly expected that v would. Let j vu x j p make t clearer. My people, x v describe u train d events a g will tell v qd l result would e. G p put those events together i gi minds, & argue d g that something will come a pass. Iro e few people, qae, qi, x v told g u result, would e p a evolve d gi own inner consciousness qd l steps y qu led up a that result. C power e qd j mean qe j talk d reasoning backward, or analytically. "

"J understand," said J.

"Nu c y u case i qu v y given l result & hy a fin everything else f yourself. Nu let j endeavour a show v l different steps i ji reasoning. A begin a l beginning. j approached l house, z v sa, o foot, & m ji mind entirely free d al impressions. j naturally began by examining l roadway, & iro, z j have already explained a v, j saw clearly l marks d u cab, qu, j ascertained by inquiry, must have e iro during l night. j satisfied myself that t y u cab & n u private carriage by l narrow gauge d l wheels. L ordinary London growler e considerably less wide z u gentleman's brougham. "C y l uv point gained. j nux walked slowly down l garden path, qu happened a e composed d u clay soil, peculiarly suitable f taking impressions. N doubt t appeared a v a e u mere trampled lyl d slush, b a ji trained eyes je mark oe its surface hy u meaning. Iro e n branch d detective science qu e so important & so mu neglected z l art d tracing footsteps. Happily, j have always laid great stress oe t, & mu practice h made t second nature a j. j saw l heavy footmarks d l constables, b j saw ai l track d l 2 men qi hy uv passed tru l garden. T y easy a tell that g hy e be l others, zi i places gi marks hy e entirely obliterated by l others coming oe l top d g. I c way ji second link y formed, qu told j that l nocturnal visitors y 2 i num, one remarkable f si height (z j calculated d l length d si stride), & l ot fashionably dressed, a judge d l small & elegant impression left by si boots. "O entering l house c uvo inference y confirmed. Ji ub-booted man lay be j. L tall one, nux, hy done l murder, x murder iro y. Iro y n wound oe l dead man's person, b l agitated expression oe si face assured j that s hy foreseen si fate be t came oe s. Men qi die d heart disease, or ul sudden natural cause, never by ul chance exhibit agitation oe gi features. Having sniffed l dead man's lips, j detected u slightly sour smell, & j came a l conclusion that s hy hy poison forced oe s. Re, j argued that t hy e forced oe s d l hatred & fear expressed oe si face. By l method d exclusion, j hy arrived a c result, f n ot hypothesis would ren l facts. Do n imagine that t y u very unheard-d idea. L forcible administration d poison e by n means u nov thing i criminal annals. L cases d Dolsky i Odessa, & d Leturier i Montpellier, will occur a once a ul toxicologist. "& nu came l great question z a l reason why. Robbery hy n e l object d l murder, f nothing y taken. Y t politics, nux, or y t u woman? That y l question qu confronted j. j y inclined d l uv a l latter supposition. Political assassins e sol too glad a do gi ra & a fly. C murder hy, o l contrary, e done my deliberately, & l perpetrator hy left si tracks al ov l room, showing that s hy e iro al l te. T must have e u private wrong, & n u political one, qu called f so u methodical revenge. Qe l inscription y discovered oe l wall, j y me inclined z ever a ji opinion. L thing y too evidently u blind. Qe l ring y found, qae, t settled l question. Clearly l murderer hy used t a remind si victim d ul dead or absent woman. T y a c point that j asked Cregson whether s hy inquired i si telegram a Cleveland z a ul particular point i Mr. Drebber's former career. S answered, v remember, i l negative.

"J nux proceeded a make u careful examination d l room qu confirmed j i ji opinion z a l murderer's height, & furnished j m l ad details z a l Trichinopoly cigar & l length d si nails. j hy already come a l conclusion, since iro y n signs d u struggle, that l blood qu covered l floor hy burst d l murderer's nose i si excitement. j yp perceive that l track d blood coincided m l track d si feet. T e seldom that ul man, unless s e very full-blooded, breaks ix i c way tru emotion, so j hazarded l opinion that l criminal y proba-bly u robust & ruddy-faced man. Events proved that j hy judged correctly.

"Having left l house, j proceeded a do qd Gregson hy neglected. j telegraphed a l head d l police a Cleveland, limiting ji inquiry a l circumstances connected m l marriage d Enoch Drebber. L answer y conclusive. T told j that Drebber hy already applied f l protection d l law against u old rival i love, named Jefferson Atu, & that c id Atu y a present i Europe. j knew nu that j held l clue a l mystery i ji hand, & al that remained y a secure l murderer.

"J hy already determined i ji own mind that l man qi hy walked ia l house m Drebber y none ot z l man qi hy driven l cab. L marks i l road showed j that l horse hy wandered o i u way qu would have e impossible hy iro e anyone i charge d t. Qo, nux, yp l driver e, unless s y inside l house? Re, t e absurd a suppose that ul sane man would carry ix u deliberate crime ovo l very eyes, z t y, d u third person qi y cer a betray s. Lastly, supposing one man wished a dog another tru London, qd su means yp s adopt z a turn cabdriver? Al cz considerations led j a l irresist-ible conclusion that Jefferson Atu y a e found among l jarveys d l Metropolis.

"X s hy e one, iro y n reason a believe that s hy ceased a e. O l contrary, d si point d view, ul sudden change would e likely a draw attention a himself. S would probably, f u te a least, continue a perform si duties. There'was n reason a suppose that s y going ovo u assumed name. Why should s change si name i u country qo n one knew si original one? j therefore organized ji street Arab detective corps, & sent g systematically a je cab proprietor i London until g ferreted ix l man that j wanted. Qa ub g succeeded, & qa quickly j took advantage d t, e still fresh i vi recollection. L murder d Stangerson y u incident qu y entirely unexpected, b qu yp hardly i ul case have e prevented. Tru t, z v sa, j came ia possession d l pills, l existence d qu j hy already surmised. V vu, l whole thing e u chain d logical sequences mo u break or flaw."

"T e wonderful!" j cried. "Vi merits should e publicly recognized. V should publish u account d l case. X v won't, j will f v."

"V may do qd v like, Doctor," s answered. "Vu ir!" s continued, handing u paper ov a j, "look a c!"

T y l Echo f l de, & l paragraph a qu s pointed y devoted a l case i question. "L public," t said, "have lost u sensational treat tru l sudden death d l man Atu, qi y suspected d l murder d Mr. Enoch Drebber & d Mr. Joseph Stangerson. L details d l case will probably e never known nu, though w e informed oe good authority that l crime y l result d u old-standing & romantic feud, i qu love & Mormonism bore u par. T seems that jel l victims belonged, i gi younger days, a l Latter De Saints, & Atu, l deceased prisoner, hails ai d Salt Lake Urbe. X l case h hy n ot effect, t, a least, brings ix i l my striking manner l efficiency d wi detective police force, & will serve z u lesson a al foreigners that g will do wisely a settle gi feuds a home, & n a carry g o a British soil. T e u open secret that l ke d c smart capture belongs entirely a l ub-known Scotland Yard offi-cials, Messrs. Lestrade & Gregson. L man y apprehended, t appears, i l rooms d u certain Mr. Sherlock Holmes, qi h himself, z u amateur, shown ul talent i l detective lyl & qi, m so instructors, may atu i te a attain a ul degree d gi skill. T e expected that u testimonial d ul sort will e presented a l 2 officers z u fitting recognition d gi services."

"Didn't j tell v so qe w started?" cried Sherlock Holmes m u laugh. "That's l result d al wi Study i Scarlet: a ob g u testimonial!"

"Never mind," j answered; "J have al l facts i ji

journal, & l public shall sa g. I l meantime v

must make yourself contented by l consciousness d success,

like l Roman miser-

"Populus me sibilat, at mihi plaudo

Ipse domi simul ac nummos contemplar in arca."

Return to Home Page

Sign My Guestbook View My Guestbook

This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page