A harsh
order called him back to a walk, and so they started up into the Grizzly
Peaks.
By dark, however, a few halts, a chance to crop grass for a moment here and
there, a roll by the next creek and a short draught of water, restored a
great part of the black's strength, and before the night was an hour old he
was heading up through the hills at a long, swift trot.
Even then it was that dark, cold time just before dawn when they wound up
the difficult pass toward the cave. The moon had gone down; a thin, high
mist painted out the stars; and there were only varying degrees of
blackness to show them the way, with peaks and ridges starting here and
there out of the night, very suddenly. It was so dark, indeed, that
sometimes Dan could not see where Bart skulked a little ahead, weaving
among the boulders and picking the easiest way. But all three of them knew
the course by instinct, and when they came to a more or less commanding
rise of ground in the valley Dan checked the stallion and whistled.
Then he sat canting his head to one side to listen more intently.
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