ng foam below, --
and spinning, dipping, diving, bobbing up like a lost log after the
drive, the body of Senor Sanchez danced all alone in the wilderness,
spilling from soggy pockets diamonds, sapphires, rubies, emeralds, into
crystal caves where only the shadows of slim trout stirred.

* * * * *

Very far away to the eastward Quintana stood listening, clutching Sard
by one sleeve to silence him.

Presently he said: "My frien', somebody is hunting with houn's in this
fores'.

"Maybe they are not hunting _us._ ... _Maybe._ ... But, for me, I shall
seek running water. Go you your own way! Houp! Vamose!"

He turned westward; but he had taken scarcely a dozen strides when Sard
came panting after him:

"Don't leave me!" gasped the terrified diamond broker. "I don't know
where to go----"

Quintana faced him abruptly -- with a terrifying smile and glimmer of
white teeth -- and shoved a pistol into the fold of fat beneath Sard's
double chin.

"You hear those dogs? Yes? Ver' well; I also. Run, now. I say to you
run ver' damn quick. He! Houp! Allez vous en! Beat eer!"

He struck Sard a stinging blow on his fleshy ear with the pistol barrel,
ad Sard gave a muffled shriek which was more like the squeak of a
frightened animal.

"My God, Quintana----" he sobbed. Then Quintana's eyes blazed murder:
and Sard turned and ran lumbering through the thicket like a stampeded
ox, crashing on amid withered brake, white birch scrub and brier, not
knowing whither he was headed, crazed with terror.

Quintana watched his flight for a moment, then, pistol swinging, he ran
in the opposite direction, eastward, speeding lithely as a cat down a
long, wooded slope which promised running water at the foot.

* * * * *

Sard could not run very far. He could scarcely stand when he pulled up
and clung to the trunk of a tree.

More dead than alive, he embraced the tree, gulping horribly for air,
every fat-incrusted organ labouring, his senses swimming.

As he sagged there, gripping his support on shaking knees, by degrees
his senses began to return.

He could hear the dogs, now, vaguely as in a nightmare. But after a
little while he began to believe that their hysterical yelping was
really growing more distant.

Then this man whose every breath was an outrage on God, prayed.

He prayed that the hounds would follow Quintana, come up with him, drag
him down, worry him, tear him to shreds of flesh and clothing.

He liste