They must press on.

Men might die, horses might die, but they must enter upon holy soil next week, with no Sabbath-breaking stain upon them.

Thus they were willing to commit a sin against the spirit of religious law, in order that they might preserve the letter of it.

It was not worth while to tell them "the letter kills." I am talking now about personal friends; men whom I like; men who are good citizens; who are honorable, upright, conscientious; but whose idea of the Saviour's religion seems to me distorted.

They lecture our shortcomings unsparingly, and every night they call us together and read to us chapters from the Testament that are full of gentleness, of charity, and of tender mercy; and then all the next day they stick to their saddles clear up to the summits of these rugged mountains, and clear down again.