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Chapter 64

           Justthenhediscoveredthathehadcomewithouttheapparatusnecessarytocarryouthisdesign.Thecactusbranchhadbeendroppedwherehewasfirstcaptured,andwasstillkickingaboutamongthefeetofhiscaptors.Hecouldnotgetholdofit,withoutexposinghimselftoafreshseizure,andthiswouldhinderhimfromeffectingthedesiredend.

           Hehadnoknife—noweaponofanykind—wherewithhemightprocureanothernopal.

           Hepaused,inpainfuluncertaintyastowhatheshoulddo.Onlyforaninstant.Therewasnotimetobelost.Hismaster’slifewasinimminentperil,menacedateverymoment.Nosacrificewouldbetoogreattosavehim;andwiththisthoughtthefaithfulPhelimrushedtowardsthecactus-plant;and,seizingoneofitsspinousbranchesinhisnakedhands,wrencheditfromthestem.

           Hisfingerswerefearfullylaceratedintheact;butwhatmatteredthat,whenweighedagainstthelifeofhisbelovedmaster?Withequalrecklessnessheranuptothemare;and,attheriskofbeingkickedbackagain,tookholdofhertail,andoncemoreappliedtheinstrumentoftorture!

           Bythistimethenoosehadbeenadjustedaroundthemustanger’sneck,carefullyadjustedtoavoidflukeorfailure.Theotherend,leadingoverthelimbofthetree,washeldinhandbythebraceofbeardedbullies—whosefingersappeareditchingtopulluponit.Intheireyesandattitudeswasanairofdeadlydetermination.Theyonlywaitedfortheword.

           Notthatanyonehadtherighttopronounceit.Andjustforthisreasonwasitdelayed.

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