This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1868 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER HI. THE WILD AND FROZEN PATH. When I woke, I was moving rapidly through the night air, supported on my horse by a strong hand on either side. My eyes were still tightly bandaged; but the cold rain driving in my face refreshed and steadied me. I gave a gasp of relief. The hands supporting me were removed; but we still rode rapidly on, the trot of three horses over a wet road, the splash of the fearful rain, and the near roll of the loud thunder. On we went in dead silence, the road getting rougher and wilder, the streams more frequent and broader, and the great rocks obstructing the way. I should think we had ridden some six miles when we suddenly stopped. I heard the right and left hand horsemen dismount, and by a sort of magnetism knew I was to do the same. By the same intuition I floundered after them up a steep and narrow path, guided only by the sound of their feet. Great rocks were piled in the pathway which seemed to be the dry bed of a stream. Huge boughs crossed the path and struck and bruised me; and great spikes of the mountain-thorn tore my clothes and lacerated my flesh. I was burning with fever; and my head split, almost, from the wound in my forehead and the fearful pressure of my blindfold. Often I fell, cutting myself on the hard rocks--sometimes 1 almost lost the sound of the tread before me. But I felt only one desire in my heart--one object burning in my brain--one wish in my soul!--and that was to go on--on--ever on! To solve the great mystery before my brain burst with the strain. Upward and onward I toiled. My breath grew short--cold sweat stood on my limbs--and the drenching rain grew colder, and the storm wilder and more fierce as we ascended. Suddenly we stopped. I heard the two voices I knew so well, on...