Page:Cy Warman--The express messenger and other tales of the rail.djvu/32

20 the crest of the hill and recovered from their surprise, the messenger was far up the mountain hiding among the crags.

"What d you say now, Cap?" asked the man who had been anxious to earn the reward. "Do we git 'im nex' time er do we let 'im go?"

"Git 'im," said the Sheriff, and the posse returned to their horses.

IV

white cloud rolled down the mountain as the fleece rolls from a sheep that is shorn, and lay in a tumbled heap at the foot of the range. The gray dawn came out of the east and revealed the peaks that were hiding high up in heaven's blue. Upon either hand, before and behind him, the messenger, crouching in the crags, heard the clatter of steel-shod feet and knew that he was being surrounded. Delay was dangerous. The coming of dawn meant death. The whispering winds, hurrying away up the hill, reminded him of the approach of day.