a moment the other stood, leaning over a bed of nettles, snorting and
sniffing as the blood dripped from his nose. Then he pursued. She heard
him thundering behind her. It was like the pursuit of a fawn by a
grizzly. She had only a hundred yards to go to the open; and as she fled
with her head on her shoulder, and her plait flapping, feeling the
strength in her limbs and the courage in her heart, she mocked her
pursuer silently.

That drink-sodden grampus catch her!

Her pride came toppling down about her. She tripped, wrenched her
ankle, and knew that she was done.

Before her was a familiar tree she had often climbed, with a branch some
six feet from the ground.

She swung herself up.

The Great Beast came snorting up. He was a dreadful sight. His nose was
bleeding profusely, and the blood had mingled with his beard and
moustache. He had lost his cap, and his head shimmered bald at her feet
beneath wisps of hair.

He seemed like a great vat full of spirit into which she had tossed a
lighted match.

"I got you, my beauty!" he panted in smothered and unnatural voice.

He put his hands on the branch.