able, -- the glassy road enormously increased the labor
of the horses; Gordon's vigilance might not for
a minute be relaxed. The blazing sun blurred his
vision, the cold crept insidiously into his bones.
The stage slowly made its way into the valleys, over
the ranges; and, with it, the sun made its way over
valley and mountain toward the west.

At last the stage reached the foot of Buck Mountain;
beyond lay the village, the end of day. The
horses cautiously began the ascent, while Gordon,
watching their progress, lent them the assistance
of his judgment and voice. The road looped a
cleared field against the mountain, on the left an icy
slope fell away in a glittering tangle of underbrush.
The stage turned and the opening dropped upon the
right.

Gordon heard a thick, unintelligible sound from
behind, and, looking about, saw Buckley Simmons
clambering out over the wheel. He stopped the
horses, but Buckley slipped, fell upon the road.
However, he quickly scrambled erect, and walked
beside the stage, over the incline. His head was
completely hidden by the woollen scarf; in one hand
he carried a heavy switch. The road swung about
once more, and, at the turn, the fall was abrupt.
Buckley Simmons stumbled across the space that
separated him from the horses. And Gordon, with
an exclamation of incredulous surprise, saw the

[[359]]

p358 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p359w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p360

v?