The country through which they passed was exceedingly rich in an
agricultural point of view, the resources of which cannot be
overestimated, and the atmosphere was dry and pure. Inhaling the
invigorating air as they rode along, Manning suffered none of the
discomforts which are naturally consequent upon a journey by stage of
more than one hundred and fifty miles. At noon, they stopped at a ranch
station, and here they were regaled with a repast which would have
tickled the palate of an epicure. Broiled trout from a mountain stream
near by, roast fowl and a variety of dishes, made up a feast well worthy
of the lusty appetites of the travelers. Here, too, Manning received
tidings of the fleeing burglar. His horse, which was a fine one, and
peculiarly marked, had been noticed particularly by the ranchmen, so
there was no doubt that he was upon the right road to overtake him.
After the dinner, and a good resting spell, they resumed their journey.
Now their road ran along the fertile valley, and again passing through a
sharp defile in the mountains, and finally winding its way along a
narrow ledge of rock, where the slightest turn to left or right, a
single misstep of the sure-footed animals, or an awkward move of their
driver, would have hurled them into an abyss hundreds of feet below,
where instant and horrible death awaited them.
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