CHAPTER XXXV. THE VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS.

Claytonwasquietlysittinginhislaw-office,lookingoverandarrangingsomepapersnecessarytoclosinghisbusiness.Acoloredboybroughtinlettersfromthemail.Helookedthemoverrapidlyand,selectingone,readitwithgreatagitationandimpatience.Immediatelyhestarted,withtheopenlettercrushedinhishand,seizedhishat,andrushedtothenearestlivery-stable. "Givemethefastesthorseyouhave—onethatcantravelnightandday!"hesaid."Imustrideforlifeordeath!" AndhalfanhourmoresawClaytoninfullspeedontheroad.Bytheslow,uncertain,andill-managedmail-route,itwouldhavetakenthreedaystoreachCanema.Claytonhoped,bystrainingeverynerve,toreachthereintwenty-fourhours.Hepushedforward,keepingtheanimalatthetopofhisspeedand,atthefirststage-stand,changedhimforafreshone.Andthusproceedingalong,hefoundhimself,atthreeo'clockofthenextmorning,inthewoodsaboutfifteenmilesfromCanema.Thestrongtensionofthenervoussystem,whichhadupheldhiminsensibletofatigueuntilthispoint,wasbeginningslightlytosubside.Allnighthehadriddenthroughthelonelinessofpine-forests,withnoeyelookingdownonhimsavethetwinklingmysteriousstars.Atthelastplacewherehehadsoughttoobtainhorses,everythinghadbeenhorrorandconfusion.Threewerelyingdeadinthehouse,andanotherwasdying. Allalongupontheroute,ateverystopping-place,theairhadseemedtobefilledwithflyingrumorsandexaggeratedreportsoffearanddeath.Assoonashebegantoperceiveth