Chapter 53

           "Half-an-hourlost,andwemaybetoolate!"

           Theywerethelastwordsofthehunter,ashehurriedawayfromthehut.

           Theyweretrue,exceptastothetime.Hadhesaidhalf-a-minute,hewouldhavebeennearerthemark.Evenatthemomentoftheirutterance,theman,whoseredwritinghadsummonedassistance,wasoncemoreindreaddanger—oncemoresurroundedbythecoyotés.

           Butitwasnotthesehehadneedtofear.Afarmoreformidablefoewasthreateninghisdestruction.

           MauriceGerald—bythistimerecognisedasthemaninthecloakandPanamahat—afterdoingbattlewiththewolves,asalreadydescribed,andbeingrescuedbyhisfaithfulTara,hadfoughtreposeinsleep.

           Withfullconfidenceintheabilityofhiscaninecompaniontoprotecthimagainsttheblackbirds,orthemoredangerousquadrupeds,withwhichhehadbeeninconflict,hesoonfound,andforseveralhoursenjoyedit.

           Heawokeofhisownaccord.Findinghisstrengthmuchrestored,heoncemoreturnedhisattentiontotheperilsthatsurroundedhim.

           Thedoghadrescuedhimfromthejackals,andwouldstillprotecthimagainsttheirattacks,shouldtheyseefittorenewit.Buttowhatend?Thefaithfulcreaturecouldnottransporthimfromthespot;andtostaytherewouldbetodieofhunger—perhapsofthewoundshehadreceived?

           Herosetohisfeet,butfoundthathecouldnotstandupright.Feeblenesswasnowaddedtohisotherinfirmity;andafterstrugglingapaceortwo,hewasgladtoreturntoarecumbentposition.

           Atthiscrisisahappythoughtoccurredtohim.