hold, and the heart throbbing within
that dusky bosom pulsated too powerfully with the common humanity of our
nature ever to falter or hesitate in its work of love.

This singular means of progress was continued for the better part of an
hour, when the Indian paused and placed him gently on his feet. The sky,
which had partially cleared, enabled him to see that they had emerged
from the ridge of hills whose entrance had been so eventful to him, and
they now stood in the open woods.

Elwood Brandon admitted to himself that the work of Shasta was now
finished, and he fully expected to be left alone in the forest to seek
his way back to his friends; but if _he_ thought so the Pah Utah
certainly did not.

Even in that moment the boy could not fail to notice that the Indian's
breathing could not be heard. Not the slightest panting nor exhaustion
from the tremendous exertion undergone!

Shasta waited but a moment, and then gripping Elwood by the wrist he
began threading his way through the forest. As he did so, instead of
allowing the youngster to walk by his side, he held his arm backward, so
that to all intents and purposes the boy was following behind him, and
yet at such an angle that their feet did not interfere with each other.

Not once did either the Pah Utah or his dependent strike a tree. Often
did they graze the back, and brush through the limbs and undergrowth,
but the uplifted arm of the Indian parted asunder the obstructions, and
opened the way, as does the snow plow of the locomotive to the engine
that drives it forward and the train coming behind.

Whether the marvelous vision of the Pah Utah penetrated the Egyptian
darkness or not, cannot be said. The veteran backwoodsman, as he strides
through the midnight forest, seems to _feel_ the presence of each
tree-trunk as he approaches it, just as the fingers of pianists strike
the piano keys with such bewildering certainty, without their once
looking at them.

Onward they pressed, Elwood only now and then able to catch a glimpse of
his faithful guide, who never vouchsafed a word or exclamation for his
benefit. There was no need of it. Both fully understood each other, and
the boy did not attempt to divert the attention which was so needed, at
the present time, for the work before him.

Finally Shasta seemed to hesitate--not the hesitation of doubt and
uncertainty, but as if he had neared if not reached his destination, and
had slackened his pace that he m