bunch, which could be
grasped but by his hands. He had made but half the ascent, when becoming
aware that the enemy had silenced his battery of stones, he glanced over
his shoulder, still climbing, to discover the cause, and found to his
dismay that his design had been frustrated. Black Thunder was seen
running with prodigious swiftness along the opposite shore, to cross the
river at the shallows about one hundred and fifty yards below, where the
bank, losing its jutting feature, allowed of an easier passage, though
less direct than that his black antagonist had chosen. The ascent was
effected quickly enough, considering how desperate and novel the means.
But by the time the negro had drawn himself over the bank and forced his
way through the break, the Indian had come dashing over at the shallows,
and now was seen running across the narrow strip of bottom land which
down there the river, in making a bend, had left between itself and the
foot of the hill.

Now followed an uphill race more desperate, if that were possible, than
the downhill roll. The black giant was nearer the goal, but the red
giant had longer and nimbler legs, which made it again about nip and
tuck between the black and the red. Leaving their tracks to be traced by
great handfuls of iron-weeds, caught at and uprooted in the scramble, up
they struggled, with might and main, and with feet that could not
quicken their speed, however fear might urge or hope incite. Panting and
all but spent, the two giants gained the top of the hill at the same
instant--Burl nearest his ax, where it lay on the ground, Black Thunder
nearest his gun, where it leaned against the log. Five long strides more
and the Indian had laid his hand on the loaded weapon, when having
snatched up his ax, the negro hurled it with engine-like force at the
savage, the ponderous head striking him full on the hip and sending him
sprawling to the ground. Burl was making all speed to recover his
weapon, this time, with its cleaving edge, to deal the death-blow
without fail, when, before he could do so, Black Thunder, though
powerless to walk or stand, whirled himself from under his victor's
uplifted hand, and with a few gigantic flounces had regained the brink
of the steep. Burl sent his battle-ax after him with a right good will,
though not with right good aim, the missile merely inflicting a flesh
wound in the enemy's arm. The next moment, with a loud whoop of defiance
and scorn, Black Thunder