按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
And so it proved。 After a while they found themselves descending again。
But now the path was full of pitfalls； hidden by the snow and the darkness。
Mr。 Coventry insisted on going first。
In this order they moved cautiously on； often stumbling。
Suddenly Mr。 Coventry disappeared with a sudden plunge； and rolled down a ravine； with a loud cry。
Grace stood transfixed with terror。
Then she called to him。
There was no answer。
She called again。
A faint voice replied that he was not much hurt； and would try to get back to her。
This； however； was impossible； and all he could do was to scramble along the bottom of the ravine。
Grace kept on the high ground； and they called to each other every moment。 They seemed to be a long way from each other； yet they were never sixty yards apart。 At last the descent moderated； and Grace rejoined him。
Then they kept in the hollow for some time； but at last found another acclivity to mount： they toiled up it； laden with snow； yet perspiring profusely with the exertion of toiling uphill through heather clogged with heavy snow。
They reached the summit； and began to descend again。 But now their hearts began to quake。 Men had been lost on Cairnhope before to… day； and never found alive： and they were lost on Cairnhope； buried in the sinuosities of the mountain； and in a tremendous snowstorm。
They wandered and staggered； sick at heart； since each step might be for the worse。
They wandered and staggered； miserably； and the man began to sigh； and the woman to cry。
At last they were so exhausted； they sat down in despair： and； in a few minutes； they were a couple of snow…heaps。
Mr。 Coventry was the first to see all the danger they ran by this course。
〃For God's sake； let us go on！〃 he said； 〃if we once get benumbed； we are lost。 We MUST keep moving； till help comes to us。〃
Then they staggered； and stumbled on again； till they both sank into a deep snow…drift。
They extricated themselves； but； oh； when they felt that deep cold snow all round them； it was a foretaste of the grave。
The sun had set； it was bitterly cold； and still the enormous flakes fell； and doubled the darkness of the night。
They staggered and stumbled on； not now with any hope of extricating themselves from the fatal mountain； but merely to keep the blood alive in their veins。 And； when they were exhausted； they sat down； and soon were heaps of snow。
While they sat thus； side by side； thinking no more of love； or any other thing but this： should they ever see the sun rise； or sit by a fireside again？ suddenly they heard a sound in the air behind them； and； in a moment； what seemed a pack of hounds in full cry passed close over their heads。
They uttered a loud cry。
〃We are saved！〃 cried Grace。 〃Mr。 Raby is hunting us with his dogs。 That was the echo。〃
Coventry groaned。 〃What scent would lie？〃 said he。 〃Those hounds were in the air； a hundred strong。〃
Neither spoke for a moment； and then it was Grace who broke the terrible silence。
〃THE GABRIEL HOUNDS！〃
〃The Gabriel hounds； that run before calamity！ Mr。 Coventry； there's nothing to be done now； but to make our peace with God。 For you are a dead man； and I'm a dead woman。 My poor papa！ poor Mr。 Little！〃
She kneeled down on the snow； and prayed patiently； and prepared to deliver up her innocent soul to Him who gave it。
Not so her companion。 He writhed away from death。 He groaned； he sighed； he cursed； he complained。 What was Raby thinking of； to let them perish？
Presently he shouted out〃I'll not die this dog's death； I will not。 I'll save myself； and come back for you。〃
The girl prayed on； and never heeded him。
But he was already on his feet； and set off to run： and he actually did go blundering on for a furlong and more； and fell into a mountain…stream； swollen by floods； which whirled him along with it like a feather； it was not deep enough to drown him by submersion； but it rolled him over and over again； and knocked him against rocks and stones； and would infallibly have destroyed him； but that a sudden sharp turn in the current drove him； at last； against a projecting tree； which he clutched； and drew himself out with infinite difficulty。 But when he tried to walk； his limbs gave way； and he sank fainting on the ground； and the remorseless snow soon covered his prostrate body。
All this time； Grace Carden was kneeling on the snow； and was； literally a heap of snow。 She was patient and composed now； and felt a gentle sleep stealing over。
That sleep would have been her death。
But； all of a sudden something heavy touched her clothes； and startled her； and two dark objects passed her。
They were animals。
In a moment it darted through her mind that animals are wiser than man in some things。 She got up with difficulty； for her limbs were stiffened； and followed them。
The dark forms struggled on before。 They knew the ground； and soon took her to the edge of that very stream into which Coventry had fallen。
They all three went within a yard of Mr。 Coventry； and still they pursued their way； and Grace hoped they were making for some shelter。 She now called aloud to Mr。 Coventry； thinking he must be on before her。 But he had not recovered his senses。
Unfortunately； the cry startled the sheep； and they made a rush； and she could not keep up with them： she toiled； she called； she prayed for strength； but they left her behind； and she could see their very forms no more。 Then she cried out in agony； and still； with that power of self…excitement； which her sex possess in an eminent degree； she struggled on and on； beyond her strength till； at last； she fell down from sheer exhaustion； and the snow fell fast upon her body。
But； even as she lay； she heard a tinkling。 She took it for sheep… bells； and started up once more； and once more cried to Mr。 Coventry； and this time he heard her； and shook off his deadly lethargy； and tried to hobble toward her voice。
Meantime； Grace struggled toward the sound； and lo； a light was before her； a light gleaming red and dullish in the laden atmosphere。 With her remnant of life and strength； she dashed at it； and found a wall in her way。 She got over it somehow； and saw the light quite close； and heard the ringing of steel on steel。
She cried out for help； for she felt herself failing。 She tottered along the wall of the building； searching for a door。 She found the porch。 She found the church door。 But by this time she was quite spent； her senses reeled； her cry was a moan。
She knocked once with her hands。 She tried to knock again； but the door flew suddenly open； and； in the vain endeavor to knock again； her helpless body； like a pillar of snow； fell forward； but Henry Little caught her directly； and then she clutched him feebly； by mere instinct。
He uttered a cry of love and alarm。 She opened her filmy eyes； and stared at him。 Her cold neck and white cheek rested on his bare and glowing arm。
The moment he saw it was really Grace Carden that had fallen inanimate into his arms； Henry Little uttered a loud cry of love and terror； and； putting his other sinewy arm under her； carried her swiftly off to his