t where they finally made
fast to the bank, there was an old trail, a woods road long abandoned,
running off into the jungle. Zeke promptly set off to explore this,
and almost at once espied a wild turkey; a plump gobbler, feeding in
the path before him. There could be no doubt as to the acceptability
of such food aboard and Zeke hastened back to _The Bonita_, where the
captain gladly loaned him a rifle. Thus equipped, Zeke returned to the
wilderness trail. He was not surprised to find that the turkey had
vanished, nor disheartened, for he was sure that a little patience
would bring him in sight of game, and there was leisure a plenty since
an interval must elapse after a change in the wind before the
deepening of the water. Within a half-hour, he shot a turkey from its
perch in a cypress. With much satisfaction, Zeke swung the gobbler,
which was big and fat, over his shoulder, and set out to return.
Almost at once, however, his steps were arrested by the faint baying
of a hound. As he listened, the sound grew louder, as if the dog drove
its quarry toward him. The instinct of the chase dominated the
mountaineer. He cast down the turkey, and waited, hopeful that a deer
or bear might cross the path within range.

Soon, he heard a noisy crackling of underbrush a little to his right,
but near at hand. With the rifle in readiness Zeke peered from the
concealment of a cypress trunk. But it was neither the lithe leaping
form of a deer, nor the uncouth shambling bulk of swamp bear that
broke from the cover a moment later. Instead, there lurched into view
a huge negro. The fugitive's clothing hung in shreds, witness of the
cat's-briar claws; his face, from the same cause, was torn and
bleeding. The breath wheezed loudly through the open mouth; the sweat
ran in streams from the face; the eyes rolled whitely. There was
terror in his expression. He carried a thick club. Now, as he came to
a halt, it was plain to the watcher that the runner's fear had at last
driven him to make a stand, when he could flee no further. Zeke had no
difficulty in understanding the situation sufficiently well. The negro
was undoubtedly a criminal who had fled in the hope of refuge from the
law in the swamp's secret lurking places. Now trailed by the dog, he
was brought to bay. Zeke determined, as a measure of prudence, to
remain inactive until the issue between man and dog should be
adjusted. Otherwise, he might find himself engaged against both man
and