Page:The Wreck of a World - Grove - 1890.djvu/142

126 running from tree to tree gave the stupid monsters the slip a score of times. Still I felt my strength gradually failing, and the monsters at length realised that if they attacked me from two sides at once they would probably catch me, as indeed they nearly did, more than once."

"Good God!" groaned I with a shudder.

"It became clear to me that if I was to save my life and ever see you all again it must be by the aid of my wits and not my legs. I looked at the great trees but their smooth trunks were quite unclimbable. Presently I came to a sort of ditch, along which I crept out of sight of the 'hounds', and so gained a few yards by throwing them out. But a very few minutes brought them close on to me again, and my legs almost refused to move further. But I would not give up while a chance remained.

"My last rush was made towards a giant tree which stood alone in a small clearing. Providence must have directed me, for it was too far from all others to give me, wearied as I was, a good chance of another rush when driven from this position, and my judgment would have led me anywhere else. I heard the snort-