“Up he got an’ made another rush at me, but went down ag’in. The third time he closed, thinking that he might lift me up from my feet an’ throw me down. Ha! ha! he found himself in az tight an’ lovin’ a clasp az if a grizzly had hold o’ him.
“His breath came in gasps, an’ I might have squeezed the life out o’ him then and thar, but I didn’t want to kill the crittur.
“Then I astonished the heathens, by liftin’ the heavy feller above my head an’ pitchin’ him twenty feet off as though he was a five-pound weight. Thar’s a heap o’ strength left in these arms yet, though I am well on to fifty-five. Arter that I became known as the Hunter Hercules, an’ have gone by that name ever since. Now ye’ve got the yarn, boy, an’ though it ain’t an all-fired bloody one, like some I could tell ye, but not vouch for, it’s true, az fifty fellers az seen it kin swear,” and the hunter proceeded to light his pipe which had gone out during his recital, with a burning brand taken from the fire near which he sat.
CHAPTER XVI.
DONNA IOLA MEETS THE TRAILERS.
We will now return to the Donna Iola, whom we have left altogether too long, to follow the fortunes of our hero.
The young girl would have felt very glad had Chauncy but beckoned to her to stop, for then she might at least die at his side. She had conceived a very strong love for her rescuer, and it was with great reluctance that she separated from him.
How was she to know whether she would ever see him again? More than once she had half-resolved to turn back and stay with him, in spite of his entreaties.
But then she remembered what Chauncy had said about her finding assistance and coming to rescue him.
Although the hope was not very strong in her breast that she would find her father and his men, yet she could not help thinking that perhaps, after all, there might be happy days in store for Chauncy and herself.
As long as Chauncy was in sight, she kept turning in the saddle to watch him. Then, when she was out of his sight, she urged the brave horse on still faster.