Page:Edgar Huntly, or The Sleep Walker.djvu/209

 I determined to start upon my feet, fire on my foe as he advanced, throw my piece on the ground, and then leap into the river.

Happily, they passed unobservant and in silence. I remained in the same posture for several minutes: at length, just as my alarms began to subside, the hollows before heard arose, and from the same quarter as before. This convinced me that my perils were not at an end. This now appeared to be merely the vanguard, and would speedily be followed by others, against whom the same caution was necessary to be taken.

My eye, anxiously bent the only way by which any one could approach, now discerned a figure, which was indubitably that of a man armed: none other appeared in company, but doubtless others were near: he approached, stood still, and appeared to gaze steadfastly at the spot where I lay.

The Optics of a Lennilennapee I knew to be far keener than my own. A log or a couched fawn would never be mistaken for a man, nor a man for a couched fawn or a log: not only a human being would be instantly detected, but a decision be unerringly made, whether it were friend or foe. That my prostrate body was the object on which the attention of this vigilant and steadfast gazer was fixed, could not be doubted: yet, since he continued an inactive gazer, there was ground for a possibility to stand upon, that I was not recognised; my fate, therefore, was still in suspense.

This interval was momentary. I marked a movement, which my fears instantly interpreted to be that of levelling a gun at my head. This action was sufficiently conformable to my prognostics. Supposing me to be detected, there was no need for him to change his post; aim might too fatally be taken, and his prey be secured, from the distance at which he now stood.

These images glanced upon my thought, and put an end to my suspense. A single effort placed me on my feet. I fired with a precipitation that precluded the certainty of hitting my mark, dropped my piece upon the ground, and leaped from this tremendous height into the