re literally tearing out
the throats of their victims. In the course of about ten minutes, what
between Shawn's middogue and the terrible fangs and strength of those
dreadful animals, the four men lay there four corpses. Shawn's danger,
however, notwithstanding his success, was only increasing. His pursuers
had now gained upon him, and when he looked around he found himself
hemmed in, or nearly so. Speed of foot was everything; but, what was
worst of all, with reference to his ultimate escape, four other dogs
were making their way up the mountains--dogs to which he was a stranger,
and he knew right well that they would hunt him with all the deadly
instincts of blood. They were, however, far in the distance, and he
felt little apprehension from them. Be this as it may, he bounded off
accompanied by his faithful friends, and not less than twenty shots were
fired after him, none of which touched him. The number of his pursuers,
dogs included, almost made his heart sink; and would have done so, but
that he was probably desperate and reckless of life. He saw himself
almost encompassed; he heard the bullets whistling about him, and
perceived at a glance that the chances of his escape were a thousand to
one against him. With a rapid sweep of his eye he marked the locality.
It also was all against him. There was a shoreless lake, abrupt and deep
to the very edge, except a slip at the opposite side, lying at his feet.
It was oblong, but at each end of it there was nothing like a pass for
at least two or three miles. If he could swim across this he knew
that he was safe, and that he could do so he felt certain, provided
he escaped the bullets and the dogs of the pursuers. At all events he
dashed down and plunged in, accompanied by his faithful attendants. Shot
after shot was sent after him; and so closely did some of them reach
him, that he was obliged to dive and swim under water from time to
time, in order to save himself from their aim. The strange bloodhounds,
however, which had entered the lake, were gaining rapidly on him, and
on looking back he saw them within a dozen yards of him. He was now,
however, beyond the reach of their bullets, unless it might be a
longer shot than ordinary, but the four dogs were upon him, and in the
extremity of despair he shouted out,--"Finn and Oonah, won't you save
me?" Shame upon the friendship and attachment of man! In a moment two of
the most powerful of the strange dogs were in something th