A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle
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divided and sub- divided into many gorges, which were so like each_other that_it_was impossible to distinguish one from_the other . he followed one for a mile or more until he_came to a mountain torrent which he_was sure that he had never seen before .Convinced that he had taken the wrong turn, he tried another, but with_the same result . night was coming on rapidly, and it_was almost dark before he at last found himself in a defile which_was familiar to him . even then it_was no easy matter to_keep to_the right track, for_the moon had_not yet risen, and_the high cliffs on either side made the obscurity more profound . weighed down with_his burden, and weary from_his exertions, he stumbled along, keeping up his heart by_the reflection that every step brought him nearer to Lucy, and_that he carried with_him enough to ensure them food for_the remainder of_their journey .

he had now come to_the mouth of_the very defile in_which he had left them . even in_the darkness he_could recognize the outline of_the cliffs which bounded it . they_must, he reflected, be awaiting him anxiously, for he had_been absent nearly five hours . in_the gladness of_his heart he put his hands to_his mouth and made the glen re- echo to a loud halloo as a signal that he_was coming . he paused and listened for an answer . none came save his own cry, which clattered up the dreary silent ravines, and was borne back to_his ears in countless repetitions . again he shouted, even louder than before, and again no whisper came back from_the friends whom he had left such a short time ago .a vague, nameless dread came over him, and he hurried onwards frantically, dropping the precious food in_his agitation .

when he turned the corner, he_came full in sight of_the spot where the fire had_been lit . there_was still aglowing pile of wood ashes there, but it had evidently not been tended since his departure . the same dead silence still reigned all round . with_his fears all changed to convictions, he hurried on . there_was no living creature near the remains of_the fire: animals, man, maiden, all were gone . it_was only too clear that some sudden and terrible disaster had occurred during his absence -- a disaster which had embraced them all, and yet had left no traces behind it .

bewildered and stunned by_this blow, Jefferson hope felt his head spin round, and had to lean upon his rifle to save himself from falling . he_was essentially a man of action, however, and speedily recovered from_his temporary impotence .Seizing a half- consumed piece of wood from_the smouldering fire, he blew it into a flame, and proceeded with its help to examine the little camp . the ground was all stamped down by_the feet of horses, showing that a large party of mounted men had overtaken the fugitives, and_the direction of_their tracks proved that_they had afterwards turned back to Salt_Lake_City . had they carried back both of_his companions with_them ? Jefferson hope had almost persuaded himself that they_must_have done so, when his eye fell upon an object which made every nerve of_his body tingle within him .a little way on one side of_the camp was a low-lying heap of reddish soil, which had assuredly not been there before . there_was no mistaking it for anything but a newly- dug grave . as_the young hunter approached it, he perceived that a stick had_been planted on_it, with a sheet of paper stuck in_the cleft fork of it . the inscription upon_the paper was brief, but to_the point:

JOHN FERRIER, formerly of Salt_Lake_City, {22} died August 4th, 1860 .

the sturdy old man, whom he had left so short a time before, was gone, then, and this_was all his epitaph .Jefferson hope looked wildly round to_see if there_was a second grave, but there_was no sign of one .Lucy had_been carried back by their terrible pursuers to fulfil her original destiny, by becoming one_of_the harem of_the elder's son . as_the young fellow realized the certainty of her fate, and_his own powerlessness to_prevent it, he_wished that he, too, was lying with_the old farmer in_his last silent resting- place .

again, however, his active spirit shook off the lethargy which springs from despair . if there_was nothing else left to him, he_could at_least devote his life to revenge . with indomitable patience and perseverance, Jefferson hope possessed also a power of sustained vindictiveness, which he_may_have learned from_the Indians amongst whom he had lived . as he stood by_the desolate fire, he_felt that_the only one_thing which could assuage his grief would_be thorough and complete retribution, brought by his own hand upon his enemies . his strong will and untiring energy should, he determined, be devoted to_that one end . with a grim, white face, he retraced his steps to where he had dropped the food, and having stirred up the smouldering fire, he cooked enough to last him for_a_few_days . this he_made up into a bundle, and, tired as he_was, he set himself to walk back through_the mountains upon_the track of_the avenging angels .

for five days he toiled footsore and weary through_the defiles which he had already traversed on horseback . at night he flung himself down among_the rocks, and snatched a few hours of sleep; but before daybreak he_was always well on_his way . on_the sixth day, he reached the eagle Canon, from_which they had commenced their ill- fated flight . thence he_could look down upon_the home of_the saints . worn and exhausted, he leaned upon his rifle and shook his gaunt hand fiercely at_the silent widespread city beneath him . as he looked at it, he observed that there were flags in some_of_the principal streets, and other signs of festivity . he_was still speculating as_to what this might mean when he heard the clatter of horse's hoofs, and saw a mounted man riding towards him . as he approached, he recognized him as a Mormon named Cowper, to_whom he had rendered services at different times . he therefore accosted him when he got up_to him, with_the object of finding out what Lucy Ferrier's fate had_been .

" I_am Jefferson hope," he_said ." you remember me ."

the Mormon looked at him with undisguised astonishment -- indeed, it_was difficult to recognize in_this tattered, unkempt wanderer, with ghastly white face and fierce, wild eyes, the spruce young hunter of former days .Having, however, at last, satisfied himself as to_his identity, the man's surprise changed to consternation .

" you_are mad to_come here," he cried ." it_is as_much as my own life is worth to_be seen talking with_you . there_is a warrant against you from_the holy Four for assisting the Ferriers away ."

"I don't fear them, or their warrant," hope said, earnestly ." you_must know something of this_matter, Cowper .I conjure you by everything you hold dear to answer a few questions . we_have always been friends . for god's sake, don't refuse to answer me ."

" what_is it ? " the Mormon asked uneasily ." be quick . the very rocks have ears and_the trees eyes ."

" what has become of Lucy Ferrier ? "

" she was married yesterday to young Drebber . hold up, man, hold up, you_have no life left in you ."

"Don't mind me," said hope faintly . he_was white to_the very lips, and had sunk down on_the stone against which he had_been leaning ." married, you say ? "

" married yesterday -- that's what those flags are for on_the endowment house . there_was some words between young Drebber and young Stangerson as_to which_was to_have her . they'd both been in_the party that followed them, and Stangerson had shot her father, which seemed to_give him the best claim; but when_they argued it out in council, Drebber's party was_the stronger, so the prophet gave her over to him . no one won't have her very long though, for I_saw death in her face yesterday . she_is more like a ghost than a woman . are_you off, then ? "

" yes, I_am off," said Jefferson hope, who had risen from_his seat . his face might_have_been chiselled out of marble, so hard and set was its expression, while its eyes glowed with a baleful light .

" where are_you going ? "

" never mind," he answered; and, slinging his weapon over his shoulder, strode off down the gorge and so away into_the heart of_the mountains to_the haunts of_the wild beasts . amongst them all there_was none so fierce and so dangerous as himself .

the prediction of_the Mormon was only too well fulfilled . whether it was_the terrible death of her father or the effects of_the hateful marriage into which she had_been forced, poor Lucy never held up her head again, but pined away and died within a month . her sottish husband, who had married her principally for_the sake of John Ferrier's property, did_not affect any great grief at his bereavement; but his other wives mourned over her, and sat up with her the night before_the burial, as is_the Mormon custom . they were grouped round the bier in_the early hours of_the morning, when, to_their inexpressible fear and astonishment, the door was flung open, and a savage- looking, weather- beaten man in tattered garments strode into_the room . without a glance or a word to_the cowering women, he walked up_to_the white silent figure which had once contained the pure soul of Lucy Ferrier .Stooping over her, he pressed his lips reverently to her cold forehead, and then, snatching up her hand, he_took the wedding- ring from her finger ." she shall_not_be buried in_that," he cried with a fierce snarl, and before an alarm could_be raised sprang down the stairs and was gone . so strange and so brief was_the episode, that_the watchers might_have found it hard to_believe it themselves or persuade other people of it, had it not been for_the undeniable fact that_the circlet of gold which marked her as having been a bride had disappeared .

for some months Jefferson hope lingered among_the mountains, leading a strange wild life, and nursing in_his heart the fierce desire for vengeance which possessed him .Tales were told in_the city of_the weird figure which_was seen prowling about_the suburbs, and which haunted the lonely mountain gorges . once a bullet whistled through Stangerson's window and flattened itself upon_the wall within a foot of him . on another occasion, as Drebber passed under a cliff a great boulder crashed down on him, and he only escaped a terrible death by throwing himself upon his face . the two young Mormons were_not long in discovering the reason of_these attempts upon their lives, and led repeated expeditions into_the mountains in_the hope of capturing or killing their enemy, but always without success . then they adopted the precaution of never going out alone or after nightfall, and of having their houses guarded . after a time they were able to relax these measures, for nothing was either heard or seen of_their opponent, and_they hoped that_time had cooled his vindictiveness .

far from doing_so, it had, if anything, augmented it . the hunter's mind was of a hard, unyielding nature, and_the predominant idea of revenge had taken such complete possession of it that there_was no room for any_other emotion . he_was, however, above all things practical . he soon realized that even his iron constitution could_not stand the incessant strain which he_was putting upon it . exposure and want of wholesome food were wearing him out . if he died like a dog among_the mountains, what_was to_become of_his revenge then ? and yet such a death was sure to overtake him if he persisted . he_felt that that was to play his enemy's game, so he reluctantly returned to_the old Nevada mines, there to recruit his health and to amass money enough to allow him to pursue his object without privation .

his intention had_been to_be absent a year at_the most, but a combination of unforeseen circumstances prevented his leaving the mines for nearly five . at_the end of_that_time, however, his memory of_his wrongs and_his craving for revenge were quite as keen as on_that memorable night when he had stood by John Ferrier's grave .Disguised, and under an assumed name, he returned to Salt_Lake_City, careless what became of_his own life, as long as he obtained what he_knew to_be justice . there he_found evil tidings awaiting him . there had_been a schism among_the chosen people a few_months before, some_of_the younger members of_the church having rebelled against the authority of_the Elders, and_the result had_been the secession of a certain number of_the malcontents, who had left Utah and become Gentiles . among_these had_been Drebber and Stangerson; and no one knew whither they had gone .Rumour reported that Drebber had managed to convert a large part of_his property into money, and_that he had departed a wealthy man, while his companion, Stangerson, was comparatively poor . there_was no clue at all, however, as to_their whereabouts .

many a man, however vindictive, would_have abandoned all thought of revenge in_the face of_such a difficulty, but Jefferson hope never faltered for a moment . with_the small competence he possessed, eked out by such employment as he_could pick up, he travelled from town to town through_the United_States in quest of_his enemies . year passed into year, his black hair turned grizzled, but still he wandered on, a human bloodhound, with_his mind wholly set upon_the one object upon_which he had devoted his life . at last his perseverance was rewarded . it_was but a glance of a face

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