A hound in the Claiborne stable-yard bayed
suddenly and the sound echoed from the surrounding houses and drifted off
toward the sheepfold. Then a noble music rose from the kennels.
Captain Claiborne, waiting for his sister on the veranda, looked toward
the stables, listening.
Zmai approached the sheep-sheds rapidly, with still a hundred yards to
traverse beyond them before he should reach the pasture wall. His rage at
thus being driven by a small man for whom he had great contempt did not
help his wind or stimulate the flight of his heavy legs, and he saw now
that he would lessen the narrowing margin between himself and his pursuer
if he swerved to the right to clear the sheds. He suddenly slackened his
pace, and with a vicious tug settled his wool hat more firmly upon his
small skull. He went now at a dog trot and Oscar was closing upon him
rapidly; then, quite near the sheds, Zmai wheeled about and charged his
pursuer headlong. At the moment he turned, Oscar's revolver bit keenly
into the night. Captain Claiborne, looking toward the slope, saw the
flash before the hounds at the stables answered the report.
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