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remembered that every word spoken for the guidance of their ally
would be heard also by the escaped convict。 Their prey was sure；
sooner or later； and had not Morton been so eager in his pursuit；
they would have waited till some plan had been devised of trapping
him without danger。 But the townsmen from St。 George； of whom some
dozen were now standing there； were quick and eager and loud in
their counsels。 〃Stay where you are； Mr。 Morton；stay awhile for
the love of Godor he'll have you down。〃 〃Now's your time； Caleb；
in on him now； and you'll have him。〃 〃Close with him； Morton； close
with him at once； it's your only chance。〃 〃There's four of us here；
we'll fire on him if he as much as shows a limb。〃 All of which
words as they were heard by that poor wretch within； must have
sounded to him as the barking of a pack of hounds thirsting for his
blood。 For him at any rate there was no longer any hope in this
world。
My reader； when chance has taken you into the hunting…field； has it
ever been your lot to sit by on horseback； and watch the digging out
of a fox？ The operation is not an uncommon one； and in some
countries it is held to be in accordance with the rules of fair
sport。 For myself； I think that when the brute has so far saved
himself； he should be entitled to the benefit of his cunning； but I
will not now discuss the propriety or impropriety of that practice
in venery。 I can never； however； watch the doing of that work
without thinking much of the agonising struggles of the poor beast
whose last refuge is being torn from over his head。 There he lies
within a few yards of his arch enemy； the huntsman。 The thick
breath of the hounds make hot the air within his hole。 The sound of
their voices is close upon his ears。 His breast is nearly bursting
with the violence of that effort which at last has brought him to
his retreat。 And then pickaxe and mattock are plied above his head；
and nearer and more near to him press his foes；his double foes；
human and canine；till at last a huge hand grasps him； and he is
dragged forth among his enemies。 Almost as soon as his eyes have
seen the light the eager noses of a dozen hounds have moistened
themselves in his entrails。 Ah me！ I know that he is vermin； the
vermin after whom I have been risking my neck； with a bold ambition
that I might ultimately witness his death…struggles； but；
nevertheless； I would fain have saved him that last half hour of
gradually diminished hope。
And Aaron Trow was now like a hunted fox； doomed to be dug out from
his last refuge； with this addition to his misery； that these hounds
when they caught their prey； would not put him at once out of his
misery。 When first he saw that throng of men coming down from the
hill top and resting on the platform； he knew that his fate was
come。 When they called to him to surrender himself he was silent；
but he knew that his silence was of no avail。 To them who were so
eager to be his captors the matter seemed to be still one of
considerable difficulty； but； to his thinking； there was no
difficulty。 There were there some score of men； fully armed； within
twenty yards of him。 If he but showed a trace of his limbs he would
become a mark for their bullets。 And then if he were wounded； and
no one would come to him！ If they allowed him to lie there without
food till he perished！ Would it not be well for him to yield
himself？ Then they called again and he was still silent。 That idea
of yielding is very terrible to the heart of a man。 And when the
worst had come to the worst； did not the ocean run deep beneath his
cavern's month？
But as they yelled at him and hallooed； making their preparations
for his death； his presence of mind deserted the poor wretch。 He
had stolen an old pistol on one of his marauding expeditions； of
which one barrel had been loaded。 That in his mad despair he had
fired； and now； as he lay near the mouth of the cavern； under the
cover of the projecting stone； he had no weapon with him but his
hands。 He had had a knife； but that had dropped from him during the
struggle on the floor of the cottage。 He had now nothing but his
hands； and was considering how he might best use them in ridding
himself of the first of his pursuers。 The man was near him； armed；
with all the power and majesty of right on his side； whereas on his
side； Aaron Trow had nothing；not a hope。 He raised his head that
he might look forth； and a dozen voices shouted as his face appeared
above the aperture。 A dozen weapons were levelled at him； and he
could see the gleaming of the muzzles of the guns。 And then the
foot of his pursuer was already on the corner stone at the cavern's
mouth。 〃Now； Caleb； on him at once！〃 shouted a voice。 Ah me！ it
was a moment in which to pity even such a man as Aaron Trow。
〃Now； Caleb； at him at once！〃 shouted the voice。 No； by heavens；
not so； even yet！ The sound of triumph in those words raised the
last burst of energy in the breast of that wretched man； and he
sprang forth； head foremost； from his prison house。 Forth he came；
manifest enough before the eyes of them all； and with head well
down； and hands outstretched； but with his wide glaring eyes still
turned towards his pursuers as he fell； he plunged down into the
waves beneath him。 Two of those who stood by； almost unconscious of
what they did； fired at his body as it made its rapid way to the
water； but； as they afterwards found； neither of the bullets struck
him。 Morton； when his prey thus leaped forth； escaping him for
awhile； was already on the verge of the cavern；had even then
prepared his foot for that onward spring which should bring him to
the throat of his foe。 But he arrested himself； and for a moment
stood there watching the body as it struck the water； and hid itself
at once beneath the ripple。 He stood there for a moment watching
the deed and its effect； and then leaving his hold upon the rock； he
once again followed his quarry。 Down he went； head foremost； right
on to the track in the waves which the other had made； and when the
two rose to the surface together； each was struggling in the grasp
of the other。
It was a foolish； nay； a mad deed to do。 The poor wretch who had
first fallen could not have escaped。 He could not even swim； and
had therefore flung himself to certain destruction when he took that
leap from out of the cavern's mouth。 It would have been sad to see
him perish beneath the waves；to watch him as he rose； gasping for
breath； and then to see to him sinking again； to rise again； and
then to go for ever。 But his life had been fairly forfeit；and why
should one so much more precious have been flung after it？ It was
surely with no view of saving that pitiful life that Caleb Morton
had leaped after his enemy。 But the hound； hot with the chase； will
follow the stag over the precipice and dash himself to pieces
against the rocks。 The beast thirsting for blood will rush in even
among the weapons of men。 Morton in his fury had felt but one
desire； burned with but one passion。 If the Fates would but grant
him to fix his clutches in the throat of the man who had ill…used
his love