_The black might be asleep_!
Far more probable, because night was his day, and day his night. At
night he was abroad, roaming and busy--by day he was at home and slept.
Oh, Heavens! if he should be asleep, and not have heard the signal!
Such was the terrible fancy that rushed across my brain.
I felt suddenly impelled to repeat the signal--though I thought at the
time, if my conjecture were correct, there was but little hope he would
hear me. A negro sleeps like a torpid bear. The report of a gun or a
railway-whistle alone could awake one. There was no chance for a puny
pipe like mine--the more especially as the screaming concert still
continued.
"Even if he should hear it, he would hardly be able to distinguish the
whistle from--Merciful heavens!"
I was speaking to my companion when this exclamation interrupted me. It
came from my own lips, but with involuntary utterance. It was called
forth by a sound of dread import--a sound that I could hear above the
shrill screaming of the birds, and hearing could interpret. It was the
trumpet-like baying of a hound!
I stood bent, and listening; I heard it again. There was no mistaking
that note. I had the ears of a hunter. I knew the music well.
Oh, how unlike to music then! It fell upon my ears like a cry of
vengeance--like a knell of death!
I thought no longer of repeating the signal; even if heard, it would be
too late. I flung the reed away, as a useless toy. I drew Aurore along
the tree, passing her behind me; and raising myself erect, stood
fronting the land.
Again the "gowl" broke out--its loud echoes rolling through the woods--
this time so near, that every moment I expected to see the animal that
had uttered it.
I had not long to wait. A hundred yards off was a cane-brake. I could
perceive a motion among the tall reeds. Their tops swayed to and fro,
and their hollow culms rattled against each other, as they were jerked
about, and borne downward. Some living thing was pressing through their
midst.
The motion reached their verge--the last canes gave way, and I now saw
what I had looked for--the spotted body of a hound! With a spring the
animal came forth, paused for a moment in the open ground, and then,
uttering a prolonged howl, took up the scent, and galloped forward.
Close upon his heels came a second; the waving cane closed behind them,
and both ran forward in the direction of the log.
As there was no longer any underwood, I had a full view of their bodies.
Gloomy as the place was, I could see them with sufficient distinctness
to note their kind--huge, gaunt deer-hounds, black and tan. From the
manner of their approach, they had evidently been trained to their work,
and that was _not_ the hunting of deer. No ordinary hound would have
run upon a human track, as they were running upon ours.
The moment I saw these dogs I made ready for a conflict. Their huge
size, their broad heavy jaws, and ferocious looks, told what savage
brutes they were; and I felt satisfied they would attack me as soon as
they came up.
With this belief I drew forth a pistol; and, laying hold of a branch to
steady me, I stood waiting their approach.
I had not miscalculated. On reaching the prostrate trunk, he scarcely
made a pause; but, leaping upward, came running along the log. He had
dropped the scent, and now advanced with eyes glaring, evidently
meditating to spring upon me.
My position could not have been better, had I spent an hour in choosing
it. From the nature of the ground, my assailant could neither dodge to
the right nor the left; but was compelled to approach me in a line as
straight as an arrow. I had nought to do but hold my weapon firm and
properly directed. A novice with fire-arms could hardly have missed
such an object.
My nerves were strung with anger--a feeling of intense indignation was
burning in my breast, that rendered me as firm as steel. I was cool
from very passion--at the thought of being thus hunted like a wolf!
I waited until the muzzle of the hound almost met that of the pistol,
and then I fired. The dog tumbled from the log.
I saw the other close upon his heels. I aimed through the smoke, and
again pulled trigger.
The good weapon did not fail me. Again the report was followed by a
plunge.
The hounds were no longer upon the log. They had fallen right and left
into the black water below!