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116 held his position before he detected the figure of a man emerging from the darkness, apparently making for the same tree; in a short time he reached it, and looking intently upon the sleepers, he partly raised his weapon, but seemed unable to proceed further in his purpose; at length Dodge saw the muzzle of the piece taking a line in the direction of Raymond's head. As quick as thought, with one hand he struck the weapon up, and with the other seized its bearer by the throat, dragging him towards the little light afforded by the embers. The scuffling awoke the sleepers, who started on their legs in time to see the Scout kicked off his, and Dodge, still holding him by the throat, threw himself with all his weight upon the body of his nearly exhausted antagonist. "Aha! my chicken" he said, after gathering breath a little, "is shooting gentlemen a favourite sport of your's?" But the scout's powers of utterance were confined to a low moaning, although the grasp upon his throat was loosened. "Make a blaze," said Dodge, "light some dried leaves; bear a hand, and strip up a blanket; we will secure our friend here while he is quiet." Before his instructions could be carried into effect, the Scout partially recovered and evinced a disposition to regain his liberty.

"Listen to me," said Dodge, grasping his gun, "there ain't two ways about me; I say, and I do. You are my prisoner, made so just in time to save you from murdering my friend. Now," he said, cocking his piece, "you hear that—the snap's up: attempt to get upon your legs, and the snap will be down, and so you will be, for I'll shoot you with as little compunction as I would a wild dog."

It was some time before the prisoner was effectually secured: this was done by wrapping him tightly in strips of blanket; during the performance of which operation Dodge consoled him