s before, and galloping somewhere in a westerly direction--
perhaps to find, at the end of a long journey only disappointment, and
the infallibility of the adage.

Taking counsel from my reason, I advised a different course of action;
and my comrade--whose head for his age was a cool one--agreed to follow
my advice. Indeed, he had far less motive for haste than I. Revenge
would keep, and could be slept upon; while with emotions such as mine, a
quiet heart was out of the question. She whom I loved was not only in
danger of being lost to me for ever, but in danger of becoming the
victim of a dastard _coquin_--diabolic as dastard! Suffering under the
sting of such a fearful apprehension, it required me to exert all the
self-restraining power of which I was possessed. Had I but known _where
to go_, I should have rushed to horse, and ridden on upon the instant.
Not knowing, I was fortunately possessed of sufficient prudence to
restrain myself from the idle attempt.

That Holt and his daughter were gone, and in company with the Mormon, we
knew: the letter told that. That they had left the cabin was equally
known; but whether they were yet clear off from the neighbourhood, was
still uncertain; and to ascertain this, was the first thing to be
accomplished. If still within the boundaries of the settlement, or upon
any of the roads leading from it, there would be a chance of
_overtaking_ them. But what after that? Ah! beyond that I did not
trust myself to speculate. I dared not discuss the future. I refrained
from casting even a glance into its horoscope--so dark did it appear. I
had but little hope that they were anywhere within reach. That phrase
of fatal prophecy, "You will be too late--too late!" still rang in my
ears. It had a fuller meaning than might appear, from a hasty
interpretation of it. Had not it also a figurative application? and did
it not signify I should be too late _in every sense_?

------------------------------------------------------------------------

At what time had they taken their departure? By what route? and upon
what road? These were the points to be ascertained; and our only hope
of obtaining a clue to them was by proceeding to the place of departure
itself--the deserted dwelling. Thither we hied in all haste--prepared,
if need be, for a more distant expedition. On entering the enclosure,
we dismounted, and at once set about examining the "sign." My companion
passed to and fr