As he turned toward the boulder, an object came before his eyes that
filled him with fresh hopes. That object was the cleft between the
rocks. It was, as already described, about a foot in width, and
separated the two boulders at all points,--except along the top, where
they rested against each other.

Caspar's quick mind at once perceived the advantage. If he could only
reach this crevice, and crawl into it in time, he might still be saved.
It was big enough for his body; it would be too narrow to admit that of
his huge antagonist.

On hands and knees he glided along with desperate speed. He reached the
entrance of the crevice. He clutched the angle of rock, and drew
himself far inward. He had not a moment to spare. He heard the horns
of the bull crash against the cheeks of the chasm; but the charge was
followed by a grunt of disappointment uttered by the furious animal.

A cry of joy involuntarily escaped from the lips of the hunter,--who
felt that he was saved!

CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT.

CASPAR IN THE CLEFT.

Caspar breathed freely. He had need; for the peril he had passed, and
the rushing backward and forward, and springing over the rocks, had
quite taken away his breath. He could not have lasted another minute.

The bull, thus balked of his revenge, seemed to become more furious than
ever. He rushed to and fro, uttering savage grunts, and at intervals
dashing his horns against the rocks, as if he hoped to break them to
pieces, and open a passage to his intended victim. Once he charged with
such fury that his head entered the cleft till his steaming snout almost
touched Caspar where he lay. Fortunately, the thick hairy shoulders of
the bull hindered him from advancing farther; and in drawing back his
head, he found that he had wedged himself; and it was with some
difficulty that he succeeded in detaching his horns from the rock!

Caspar took advantage of his struggles; and seizing a stone that lay
near at hand, he mauled the bull so severely about the snout, that the
brute was fain to get his head clear again; and although he still stood
madly pawing by the outside of the cleft, he took care not to repeat his
rude assault.

Caspar now seeing that he was safe from any immediate danger, began to
feel uneasiness about his broken limb. He knew not how long he might be
detained there--for it was evident that the yak was implacable, and
would not leave him while he could keep his eyes upon him.