tream, and on the third trial I succeeded.

The flood had cut the bank from under a great buttonwood. It hung
prone over the water, and one dipping fork seized and held the fainting
swimmer. The dog was close, but had entered the current too far down
and was breasting it while he bayed in protest to his master's horn.
Now, as Euonymus struggled along the tree the brute struck for the
bank, and the two gained it together. Euonymus ran, but on a bit of
open grass dropped to one knee, at bay. The dog sprang. In the negro
fashion the runaway's head ducked forward to receive the onset, while
both hands clutched the brute's throat. Not dreaming that they would
keep their hold till I could get there, I leaped down in the shoal to
fire; but the grip held, though the dog's teeth sank into legs and
arms, and all at once Euonymus straightened to full stature, lifting
the dog till his hind legs could but just tiptoe the ground.

"Right!" I cried; "bully, my boy! Lift him one inch higher and he's
whipped!"

But Euonymus could barely hold him off from face and throat.

"Turn him broadside to me!" I shouted, having come into water
breast-deep. "Let me put a hole through him!"

But the fugitive's only response was: "Run, Robelia! 'Ever mind me!
Run! Run!"

And here came Hardy across the gravel-bar, in the saddle. I aimed at
him: "Stand, sir! Stand!"

He hauled in and lifted the horn. Euonymus had heaved the dog from his
feet. The horn rang, and with a howl of terror the brute writhed free,
leaped into the river and swam toward his master. I sprang on my horse
and took the deep water: "Wait, boy! Wait!"

It was hard getting ashore. When I reached the spot of grass I found
only the front half of the runaway's hickory shirt, in bloody rags. I
spurred to a gap in the bushes, and there, face down, lay Euonymus,
insensible. I knelt and turned the slender form; and then I whipped
off my coat and laid it over the still, black bosom. For Euonymus was
a girl.

XVII

Her eyelids quivered, opened. For a moment the orbs were vacant, but
as she drew a deep breath she saw me. Her shapely hand sought her
throat-button, and finding my coat instead she turned once more to the
sod, moaning, "Brother! Mingo!"

"Is he Robelia?" I asked. "Come, we'll find him."

Clutching my coat to her breast, she staggered up. I helped her put
the coat on and sprang into the saddle. "Now mount behind me," I said,
reaching fo