There were times when the coach fairly crawled along the
edge of a precipice, a proceeding so hazardous that Beverly shuddered as
if in a chill. Aunt Fanny slept serenely most of the time, and Baldos
took to dreaming with his eyes wide open. Contrary to her expectations,
the Axphainians did not appear, and if there were robbers in the hills
they thought better than to attack the valorous-looking party. It dawned
upon her finally that the Axphainians were guarding the upper route and
not the one over which she was traveling. Yetive doubtless was
approaching Ganlook over the northern pass, provided the enemy had not
been encountered before Labbot was reached. Beverly soon found herself
fearing for the safety of the princess, a fear which at last became
almost unendurable.
Near nightfall they came upon three Graustark shepherds and learned that
Ganlook could not be reached before the next afternoon. The tired,
hungry travelers spent the night in a snug little valley through which a
rivulet bounded onward to the river below. The supper was a scant one,
the foragers having poor luck in the hunt for food. Daybreak saw them on
their way once more. Hunger and dread had worn down Beverly's supply of
good spirits; she was having difficulty in keeping the haggard,
distressed look from her face. Her tender, hopeful eyes were not so bold
or so merry as on the day before; cheerfulness cost her an effort, but
she managed to keep it fairly alive.
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