She's bound to stop on account of the snow; and I've done my dooty when I hand the horses over to the driver." "But if she hears of the block up yer, and waits at the lower station ?" said Rawlins.
"Then I've done my dooty all the same.

'Skuse me, gentlemen, but them ez hez their own horses kin do ez they like." As this clearly pointed to Hale, he briefly assured his companions that he had no intention of deserting them.

"If I cannot reach Eagle's Court, I shall at least keep as near it as possible.

I suppose any messenger from my house to the Summit will learn where I am and why I am delayed ?" "Messenger from your house!" gasped Rawlins.

"Are you crazy, stranger?
Only a bird would get outer Eagle's now; and it would hev to be an eagle at that! Between your house and the Summit the snow must be ten feet by this time, to say nothing of the drift in the pass." Hale felt it was the truth.