am. We did
not go far away from the water, lest we might be pushed again to repeat
the _ruse_.

All this time the yelping of the bloodhounds had been ringing in our
ears. Suddenly it ceased.

"They have reached the water," said Clayley.

"No," rejoined Lincoln, stopping a moment to listen: "they're chawin'
the bones of the varmint."

"There again!" cried one, as their deep voices rang down the glen in the
chorus of the whole pack. The next minute the dogs were mute a second
time, speaking at intervals in a fierce growl that told us they were at
fault.

Beyond an occasional bark we heard nothing of the bloodhounds until we
had gained at least two miles down the stream. We began to think we had
baffled them in earnest, when Lincoln, who had kept in the rear, was
seen to throw himself flat upon the grass. We all stopped, looking at
him with breathless anxiety. It was but a minute. Rising up with a
reckless air, he struck his rifle fiercely upon the ground, exclaiming:

"They're arter us agin!"

By one impulse we all rushed back to the creek, and, scrambling over the
rocks, plunged into the water and commenced wading down.

A sudden exclamation burst from Raoul in the advance. We soon learnt
the cause, and to our dismay. We had struck the water at a point where
the stream canoned.

On each side rose a frowning precipice, straight as a wall. Between
these the black torrent rushed through a channel only a few feet in
width so swiftly that, had we attempted to descend by swimming, we
should have been dashed to death against the rocks below.

To reach the stream farther down it would be necessary to make a circuit
of miles; and the hounds would be on our heels before we could gain
three hundred yards.

We looked at each other and at Lincoln, all panting and pale.

"Stumped at last!" cried the hunter, gritting his teeth with fury.

"No!" I shouted, a thought at that moment flashing upon me. "Follow
me, comrades! We'll fight the bloodhounds upon the cliff."

I pointed upward. A yell from Lincoln announced his approval.

"Hooray!" he cried, leaping on the bank; "that idee's jest like yer,
Cap. Hooray! Now, boys, for the bluff!"

Next moment we were straining up the gorge that led to the precipice;
and the next we had reached the highest point, where the cliff, by a
bold projection, butted over the stream. There was a level platform
covered with tufted grass, and upon this we took our stand.