240 111 SNTR AN

slight acerdent to one of iy stirrap leathers forced e to disaount. [ ocalled to my companton to ride ong and that T would Gver- take him mmmediately, and he did so. The road at that pomt runs along the mountaim side, between a lofty ehfl upon the left and 2 precipitous descent upon the right - -hut the path s broad and smooth, heing, [ should say, from ten to Nfteen yvards wide, and m no way dangerous. About Nty or sixty yards rom the spot where T dismounted the path turned at a sharp angle round a pomt of rock and became lost to sight. I happened to look up, while stll engaged upon the stirrup lcather, and 1T saw my friend disappear round the angle of the rowde s soonas had fintshed my work, which took me some: what longer than 1 had expected, T remounted, and was about to follow him when T owas startled to hear s voice ery out for help. [t was a shrick - a single ringing seream

uttered as iff In extremity of dLony or lerror,

I'ocalloped for- ward, and on reaching the angle of the road [ was surprised to see his pony

COLHE RIDIER WAS NOWHERE TO BL SN

standing i the roadway, some sisty yards ahead, with the saddle empty. The nder was nowhere to be seen.”

“What time had elapsed smee he yvou? o

“ 1 should say about tow or Bve mimutons

possibly six but not than that, 1

el

(ARERIR feel sure.” “What did vou do neat 2 “ T rode forwara, calling his name oudly, and casting my cyes inoall divcenions, a1

sontld sec o ac irace DF e e b e ey

A NG AL N

creature. Phe ollfly which at that pomt formed o deep bay) round which the roadway ran to the corresponding angle at the other cxtremity of the are; was as steep and naked a o owall s on the other hand was the precipiee. When IToreached the spot at which the pony stood, 1 perceved that it

N

wis trembling, as af strongly startled 5 it made no o effort to escape. One of the stirups was Iving across the saddle @ the other was hanging 1 the usual position. ]

saw nothig clse unusual about the pony, but on casting my cyes upon the snowy roadway I perecived marks as 1f o struggle had taken place there ” “What was the position of these marks 27 “UThey were m front of the pony, on the forward track, and appeared as if some heavy hody had been dragged for a distanee of cight or ten yards. "Then the marks ccased abruptly 3 the snow all round was absolutcely undisturbed.” “There were prints 27 “None whatever, exeept those of our two pomes on the way by which we had

no o foot

come. The road 1 front was a0 white sheet =1t was clear that no

once could have passed that way sinee the snow

‘ (el

“PDid the ARG o b marks extend

to the edge of the precipiee?”

“Oh, no; ‘- they did not i stretch i that

dhircction at all. The snow be- tween themand the verge of the precipice was absolutely stmooth and un- broken.”

“Ind you approach the verge ?”

“Neso D did. [ Tooked and saw omething white fluttering on the branches tree which sprouted from o ereviee a vards bel w1t was Mo Carboyne's handkerchief s 1 knew at by the pecubar colourcd Lorder. T had seen hine use 1t that

= Ji “‘ "( .W“:" A \

Osver

ol

W

morning. Toeouldd not diseern the hottom o he chason, alaeh was hadden by the .*'l..T o B TN S AN I B P g g l_lil,\".