Quickly stopping Jack, he soon saw a similar object rise above the beetling rocks of the Narrows, and after wavering for a moment in the air sink out of sight.
At a loss to know what these meant, he watched the place for several minutes, though he saw nothing further to explain the mystery.
Resolved not to be caught off his guard, if any harm was intended him, he rode cautiously forward into the valley and on up the Devil's Stairs leading to Eagle's Tracks.
Not a sound broke the solemn silence of the wild scene, save the steady tread of Jack's feet, and Snap began to breathe easier as he approached the upper edge of the Tracks and drew near the Narrows.
"In a moment I shall be around the point of rock and——"
A terrific explosion suddenly cut short his thoughts, and looking backward, he was startled to see a huge portion of the cliff overhanging the narrow road topple over and fall with a deafening crash on the spot he had just passed.
Jack jumped madly forward at the startling sound, unchecked by his rider, who was as anxious as the steed to get beyond the frowning wall of rocks.
The next moment he reached the Narrows and was almost at the angle where the way suddenly wound around to the other side of the cliff, when a second explosion, more startling than the first, broke upon the air. Looking up with dread expectations of what he was to witness, the postboy reeled back in his saddle as he saw the whole side of the ledge falling upon him, while huge blocks of stone were sent flying over his head into the chasm yawning upon his left hand.
Too late to reach safety ahead, unable to turn back, a shudder ran through his frame, as he realized that the next moment he must be crushed into a shapeless mass by the rending rock!