"'Sklokoyum!' I cried.
"White's hand closed on my arm with the grip of a vice.
"'Hear that?'
"I heard it. It was the voice of a woman or a girl.
"'She's calling,' said Long, 'calling to it.'
"'Great Heaven!' I exclaimed. 'It's after the Indian! Come!'
"I started up, but I had taken only a half-dozen springs or so when Sklokoyum came leaping, plunging into view. I have seen fear, horrible fear, that of cowards and the fear of brave men; but never had I, never have I, seen anything like that fear which I saw now. And Sklokoyum, whatever his faults, has a skookum tumtum—in other words, is no coward.
"Down the Indian came plunging. There was a glimpse of a blood-covered visage; then he was past. The next instant a shock, a savage oath from White, and he and the Siwash fell in a heap, went over the edge and rolled down the bank and clean to the fire.
"Long and I followed, keeping a sharp lookout behind us, and, indeed, in every direction. But no glimpse was caught of any moving thing, nor did the faintest sound come to us from out that cursed vapor, settling on the trees and dripping, dripping, dripping.
"Sklokoyum's right cheek was slashed as though by some great talon, and he had been terribly bitten in the throat.