than her knees, and this without a check to her wonderful speed,
nor embarrassment by the cumbering of the folds. She held her head
as before; her lips were firmly set, only the tense nostrils gave
her breath; not a sign of distress witnessed to the long
sustaining of that terrible speed.

But on Christian by now the strain was telling palpably. His head
weighed heavy, and his breath came labouring in great sobs; the
bear spear would have been a burden now. His heart was beating
like a hammer, but such a dulness oppressed his brain, that it was
only by degrees he could realise his helpless state; wounded and
weaponless, chasing that terrible Thing, that was a fierce,
desperate, axe-armed woman, except she should assume the beast
with fangs yet more formidable.

And still the far slow stars went lingering nearly an hour from
midnight.

So far was his brain astray that an impression took him that she
was fleeing from the midnight stars, whose gain was by such slow
degrees that a time equalling days and days had gone in the race
round the northern circle of the world, and days and days as long
might last before the end--except she slackened, or except he
failed.

But he would not fail yet.

How long had he been praying so? He had started with a
self-confidence and reliance that had felt no need for that aid;
and now it seemed the only means by which to restrain his heart