Page:Edgar Huntly, or The Sleep Walker.djvu/184

 tended to unfit me for a contest and a scene like this. But I was not governed by the soul which usually regulates my conduct; I had imbibed from the unparalleled events which had lately happened a spirit vengeful, unrelenting, and ferocious.

There was now an interval for flight; throwing my weapons away, I might gain the thicket in a moment: I had no ammunition, nor would time be afforded me to reload my piece; my antagonist would render my poniard and my speed of no use to me: should he miss me as I fled, the girl would remain to expiate, by her agonies and death, the fate of his companions.

These thoughts passed through my mind in a shorter time than is demanded to express them; they yielded to an expedient suggested by the sight of the gun that had been raised to destroy the girl, and which now lay upon the ground. I am not large of bone, but am not deficient in agility and strength: all that remained to me of these qualities was now exerted; and dropping my own piece, I leaped upon the bank, and flew to seize my prize.

It was not till I snatched it from the ground, that the propriety of regaining my former post rushed upon my apprehension. He that was still posted in the hovel would mark me through the seams of the wall, and render my destruction sure. I once more ran towards the bank, with the intention to throw myself below it: all this was performed in an instant; but my vigilant foe was aware of his advantage, and fired through an opening between the logs: the bullet grazed my cheek, and produced a benumbing sensation that made me instantly fall to the earth. Though bereaved of strength, and fraught with the belief that I had received a mortal wound, my caution was not remitted; I loosened not my grasp of the gun; and the posture into which I accidentally fell, enabled me to keep an eye upon the house, and a hand upon the trigger. Perceiving my condition, the savage rushed from his covert in order to complete his work; but at three steps from the threshold he received my bullet in his breast. The uplifted tomahawk fell from his hand, and uttering a loud shriek, he fell upon the body of his companion: his cries struck upon my