g succeeded in detaching the
hounds from the place, around which, until then, they had not ceased to
hover, he led them down to the margin of the thicket.

"Put them in, boy; put them in," continued the woman; "and you, Ishmael
and Abiram, if any thing wicked or hurtful comes forth, show them the
use of your rifles, like frontier-men. If ye ar' wanting in spirit,
before the eyes of my children will I put ye both to shame!"

The youths who, until now, had detained the hounds, let slip the thongs
of skin, by which they had been held, and urged them to the attack by
their voices. But, it would seem, that the elder dog was restrained by
some extraordinary sensation, or that he was much too experienced to
attempt the rash adventure. After proceeding a few yards to the very
verge of the brake, he made a sudden pause, and stood trembling in
all his aged limbs, apparently as unable to recede as to advance. The
encouraging calls of the young men were disregarded, or only answered
by a low and plaintive whining. For a minute the pup also was similarly
affected; but less sage, or more easily excited, he was induced at
length to leap forward, and finally to dash into the cover. An alarmed
and startling howl was heard, and, at the next minute, he broke out
of the thicket, and commenced circling the spot, in the same wild and
unsteady manner as before.

"Have I a man among my children?" demanded Esther. "Give me a truer
piece than a childish shotgun, and I will show ye what the courage of a
frontier-woman can do!"

"Stay, mother," exclaimed Abner and Enoch; "if you will see the
creatur', let us drive it into view."

This was quite as much as the youths were accustomed to utter, even on
more important occasions, but having given a pledge of their intentions,
they were far from being backward in redeeming it. Preparing their arms
with the utmost care, they advanced with steadiness to the brake. Nerves
less often tried than those of the young borderers might have shrunk
before the dangers of so uncertain an undertaking. As they proceeded,
the howls of the dogs became more shrill and plaintive. The vultures and
buzzards settled so low as to flap the bushes with their heavy wings,
and the wind came hoarsely sweeping along the naked prairie, as if
the spirits of the air had also descended to witness the approaching
development.

There was a breathless moment, when the blood of the undaunted Esther
flowed backward to her heart, as sh