Part 33 (1/2)

But here,” says he, ”no man can roll down a hundred yards without setting foot to the ground. Howsomever, we're shut of the dog for our consolation.”

Scarce were these words out of his mouth when they were forcibly contradicted by a fierce barking close in our rear; and turning about we spied the brute (as big as a wolf and as horrid) bounding towards us.

But seeing us prepared with our swords to cut him in pieces, he stops short. Nor would he anyhow permit us to get near him (though Matthew, to tempt him, hid his sword behind him, and made forward with his hand out, saying ”Poor doggy” very civilly, as though he would caress him), but backing when we advanced towards him, approaching as we went on, the dog contrived ever to keep well out of our reach, all the while barking to be heard a mile off.

”This will never do,” says I; ”the Portugals will be down on us directly.”

”Ay,” says he; ”do you cut a way through the briars, while I keep this brute off.”

So I hacked away with all my might at the lianas, while Matthew occupied himself with the dog, sometimes in Portuguese, commanding him (as I judged) to go home in a tone of authority, or entreating him mildly to come near and get a chop for his pains; but all to no purpose, except that he kept him from doing us a mischief with his fangs.

”Go home, you beast!” cries he: and then in the same breath, ”Would we were back in my old valley, master: I'd brain you with a rock in a twinkling. But here is nothing to hurl at the cursed beast. Nice old doggy, come here!”

But now he had to hold his peace, for we could hear in the woods above us the voices of Portugals crying to one another, and shouting encouragement to the dog; nor dare I chop our way further, lest the flas.h.i.+ng of the sword should be seen above the growth about us, and bring a shower of musket-b.a.l.l.s upon us.

The only thing that saved us from immediate discovery and apprehension was that our pursuers found the same difficulty in advancing that we had overcome, and had to cut their way to where they heard the barking of the dog.

”If we could only silence that vile dog!” whispered Matthew, grinding his teeth.

”Ay,” says I, ”but how may we do that?”

”I see but one way,” says he, ”and that not very promising, but 'tis better than to wait here and be shot. Let us go back the way we have come.”

”Why,” says I, ”that is but to offer ourselves the sooner to the Portugals.”

”Nay,” says he, ”they are still a pretty fair distance off. Come and do as I ask you.”

”Lead on, friend,” says I. ”You are better acquainted with this warfare than I.”

So Matthew started at once to go back up the hill by the way we had cut through the growth, which did seem to me the rankest folly in the world.

And what made it look worse was that, instead of trying to pacify the dog, he enraged it more than ever by thrusting at it with his sword, spitting at it, etc., but in betwixt he gave me instructions, and opened out his designs.

”You see the big tree on your right hand in front?” says he.

”Ay,” says I.

”Get behind me, and when I pa.s.s that tree slip behind it and wait ready with your sword. The dog knows me, and takes no note of you.”

There was no time to say more, for he had come abreast of the tree, and here he did draw the dog into a greater rage than ever, so that (as he had directed) I slipped behind the tree un.o.bserved. And now, seeing Matthew's excellent design, I waited with my sword raised above my head.

After he had gone forward another two or three paces, Matthew begins to draw back, all the while gibing and jeering at the dog, who was now so furious that he even ventured to snap at the sword-blade when Matthew thrust it forward; and so step-by-step Matthew falls back until, pa.s.sing me a couple of paces, the dog comes snapping and snarling forward after him till he is fairly within my reach, when with one swift blow I did cut him right through the loins clean in two halves.

CHAPTER XLIII.

WE LAY OUR HEADS TOGETHER CONCERNING WHAT IS BEST TO BE DONE.

Now having slain the dog, as I have shown, we crouched us down, that we might not be seen, feeling pretty secure; for those who pursued were a good way to the north of the path we had cut for ourselves, and unless by accident they hit upon that, they might hack and hew for a whole week (now there was no dog to betray our whereabouts) without coming nigh us.

Indeed, as the old saying goes, 'twas like searching of a needle in a bottle of hay, with this addition--that they who searched were no bigger than the needles they sought. As we squatted there we could plainly see them chopping at the growth to make a pa.s.sage (which was a comforting a.s.surance they had not hit upon the alley we had made), together with much cursing and swearing; very grateful also to our ears, as showing they liked not their business, and crying out to the dog, who, for aught they knew, had started some game or was busy battening upon his prey.