Все приключения Шерлока Холмса / All adventures of Sherlock Holmes

The first man uttered the plaintive signal cry again, and the second man appeared out of the obscurity.

“Tomorrow at midnight,” said the first man.

“When the Whip-poor-Will[59 - Whip-poor-Will – козодой] calls three times.”

“It is well,” returned the other. “Shall I tell Brother Drebber?”

“Pass it on to him, and from him to the others. Nine to seven!”

“Seven to five!” repeated the other, and the two figures flitted away in different directions.

Their footsteps died away in the distance.

Jefferson Hope sprang to his feet, and helped his companions through the gap. He led the way across the fields, he was supporting and carrying the girl.

“Hurry on! hurry on!” he gasped from time to time. “Everything depends on speed. Hurry on!”

They made rapid progress. Only once they met someone, and then they managed to slip into a field. Then the hunter chose a rugged and narrow footpath which led to the mountains. Two dark peaks loomed above them through the darkness.

It was the Eagle Ravine in which the horses were awaiting them.

Jefferson Hope picked his way among the great boulders and along the watercourse. The girl sat upon the mule, and old Ferrier upon one of the horses, with his money-bag, while Jefferson Hope led the other along the precipitous and dangerous path.

In spite of all dangers and difficulties, the fugitives were happy, for every step increased the distance between them and the terrible people.

They soon had a proof, however, that they were still within the jurisdiction of the Saints.

Suddenly the girl gave a cry and pointed upwards. On a rock, there stood a solitary sentinel. He saw them and asked:

“Who goes there?”

“Travellers for Nevada,” said Jefferson Hope, with his hand upon the rifle.

The lonely watcher was peering down at them.

“By whose permission?” he asked.

“The Holy Four,” answered Ferrier.

“Nine to seven,” cried the sentinel.

“Seven to five,” returned Jefferson Hope promptly.

He remembered the countersign in the garden.

“Pass, and the Lord go with you,” said the voice from above.

They went forward. They knew that freedom lay before them.

Chapter V

The Avenging Angels

All night their course lay through intricate defiles and over and rock-strewn paths. More than once they lost their way, but Hope’s knowledge of the mountains enabled them to regain the track once more.