Chapter 72

           AftergettingclearoftheenclosuresofCasadelCorvo,thehunterheadedhisanimalupstream—inthedirectionofthePortandtown.

           Itwastheformerheintendedtoreach—whichhedidinarideoflessthanaquarterofanhour.

           Commonlyittookhimthreetoaccomplishthisdistance;butonthisoccasionhewasinanunusualstateofexcitement,andhemadespeedtocorrespond.Theoldmarecouldgofastenoughwhenrequired—thatiswhenZebrequiredherandhehadamodeofquickeningherspeed—knownonlytohimself,andonlyemployeduponextraordinaryoccasions.Itsimplyconsistedindrawingthebowieknifefromhisbelt,andinsertingaboutininchofitsbladeintothemare’ship,closetotheterminationofthespine.

           Theeffectwaslikemagic;or,ifyoupreferthefigure—electricity.Sospurred,Zeb’s"critter"couldaccomplishamileinthreeminutes;andmorethanoncehadshebeencalledupontoshowthiscapability,whenherownerwaschasedbyComanches.

           Onthepresentoccasiontherewasnonecessityforsuchexcessivespeed;andtheFortwasreachedafterfifteenminutes’sharptrotting.

           Onreachingit,Zebslippedoutofthesaddle,andmadehiswaytothequartersofthecommandant;whilethemarewasleftpantingupontheparadeground.

           TheoldhunterhadnodifficultyinobtaininganinterviewwiththemilitarychiefofFortInge.