ght forward, and with head lowered, as if to guard his steps, he
surged onward, every nerve keenly alert, and his entire body quivering
with excitement.

For about an hour the storm beat upon them in all its fury, and
notwithstanding the riding-cloak, Glen became thoroughly soaked. But
she never once thought of herself, for her mind was ever upon Reynolds.
Would they be in time to help him? she asked herself over and over
again. She wondered what was the nature of the plot Curly had
concocted, and whether all the miners were involved. Any danger to
herself never once entered her mind, for she was so sure of the loyalty
of her dusky followers. To reach the man she loved was the one great
object which upheld her as she rode through that howling tempest.

At length they came to a place where the draw swerved sharply to the
left. Here the trail left the valley and circled up a small hill
behind the mining camp. The storm, following the draw as if it were a
funnel, rushed roaring on its way, while the riders gaining the higher
ground were somewhat beyond its reach, and, turning, saw it sweeping
below like a torrent in full spate.

With a great sigh of relief, Glen paused for a moment on the summit,
viewed the magnificent sight, and waited for her followers as they
struggled, one by one, from the grasp of the mighty monster of the
mountains. Then she spoke to Midnight and moved onward.

It was quite dark now, and the opposite slope which they soon began to
descend was wrapped in the shadows of the hills. But Sconda knew every
step of the way, and for the first time since leaving Glen West he took
the lead and guided the band. Not a word was spoken as they defiled
down that steep, narrow trail, and to anyone watching, they would have
appeared like spectres coming from the unseen world.

Glen was nerved now to the highest pitch of excitement, for she felt
that the critical moment, whatever it might be, was not far off.
Anxiously and eagerly she peered forward, and just as they had almost
reached the foot of the trail, a bright light suddenly pierced the
darkness. Instantly every rider drew rein, and the horses stopped
almost as one. All eyes were fixed, upon a blazing fire ahead, around
which they could see a number of men moving. Then Glen gave a slight
cry of dismay, touched Midnight sharply with her whip, and bounded
forward, straight for that burning pile.

CHAPTER XXVII

IN THE TOILS

Curly reac