bout, and to enjoy
it no less keenly than his rider. Tom and the Commodore, quickening
their pace as they got out of ear-shot, retraced their steps quite back
to the turnpike road, along which Harry saw them gallop furiously, in a
few minutes, and turn up, half a mile off, toward the further gulley--he
saw no more, however; though he felt certain that the Commodore was,
scarce ten minutes after he lost sight of them, standing within twelve
paces of him, at the further angle of the swamp--Tom having warily
determined that the two single guns should take post together, while the
two doubles should be placed where the wild quarry could get off
encountering but a single sportsman.

It was a period of intense excitement before the sun rose though it was
of short duration--but scarcely had his first rays touched the open
meadow, casting a huge gray shadow from the rounded hill which covered
half the valley, while all the farther slope was laughing in broad
light, the mist wreaths curling up, thinner and thinner every moment,
from the broad streamlet in the bottom, which here and there flashed out
exultingly from its wood-covered margins--scarcely had his first rays
topped the hill, before a distant shout came swelling on the air, down
the ravine, announcing Jem's approach. No hound gave tongue, however,
nor did a rustle in the brake, or any sound of life, give token of the
presence of the game--louder and nearer drew the shouts--and now Harry
himself began to doubt if there were any truth in Jem's relation, when
suddenly the sharp, quick crack of Forester's rifle gave token that the
game was afoot--a loud yell from that worthy followed.

"Look out! Mark--back--mark back!"

And keenly Archer did look out, and warily did he listen--once he
detected, or fancied he detected, a rustling of the under-wood, and the
crack of a dry stick, and dropping his reins on the horse's neck, he
cocked his rifle--but the sound was not repeated, nor did any thing come
into sight--so he let down the hammer once again, and resumed his silent
watch, saying to himself...

"Frank fired too quick, and he has headed up the brook to Jem. If he is
forward enough now, we shall have him back instantly, with the hounds at
his heels; but if he has loitered and hung back, `over the hills and far
away' is the word for this time."

But Jem was in his place, and in another moment a long whoop came
ringing down the glen, and the shrill yelping rally of the ho