ck off to the left at a headlong rate, over
heath and rush tuft, apparently making for the wildest part of the
marsh, so that Ada's powers of endurance were hardly tried as she
struggled on, her spirit rising with the difficulties she had to
encounter.

But now, as if moved by a fresh impulse, Norton changed his course in a
way that enabled Ada to gain ground, for he paid not the slightest heed
to his pursuer, making now for the great pine grove, starting off into a
run as if to reach the goal he had in view, but falling heavily, twice
over, upon the soft, trembling soil, which yielded more or less to every
step.

Panting and almost exhausted, Ada pressed on till she saw Norton reach
the edge of the pine wood, when, as he dashed in, be coming in an
instant lost to sight amidst the tall, bare trunks, her heart for a few
moments failed her, and sinking upon her knees, with a faint wail of
misery, the hot tears coursed one another down her cheeks. But the next
minute she was up again, and hurrying to the edge of the wood, whose
gloom cast a chill upon her as she entered its precincts.

Peering anxiously in every direction, her breath drawn in hysterical,
laboured sobs, Ada pressed on farther and farther into the great dim,
shadowy solitude, trembling horribly the while, and with her imagination
picturing some dreadful tragedy taking place. In the vast wood she knew
that it was by the merest chance that she could find him, for he had
become lost to sight when he entered; while, even if she could discover
him alone, mad almost, and with no help at hand, how dared she go near?
Her heart whispered, though, that she must proceed, and she still panted
along, her eyes ever wandering amidst the dim aisles spread out on every
side, but in vain--she could not see him; and again the weak, despairing
tears forced themselves from her eyes.

It was, then, useless: she had done everything possible to a human
being, and all that was now left was for her to pray; and sinking, with
clasped hands, to her knees, she again gave way to the despair of her
heart, when a short, sharp snap on her right made her leap to her feet
and run hurriedly over the slippery pine needles in the direction from
which it had come. For from that sound she felt that her worst fears
were realised, and that he had indeed sought this solitude for the
horrible purpose she dreaded. But the pistol had missed fire, and she
might yet be in time, though so dreadful