As they reached
the first of these, Tom motioned Forester to stop.
"Stand here," he whispered, "close in here, jest behind this here crag--
and look out hereaways toward the village. If he comes down this runway,
kill him, but mind you doosn't show a hair out of this corner; for
Archer, he'll stand next, and if so be he crosses from the swamp hole
hereaways, you'll chance to get a bullet. Be still, now, as a mouse, and
tie your horse here in the cove!--Now, lads"
And off he set again, rounded the knob, and making one slight motion
toward the nook, wherein he wished that Harry should keep guard, wheeled
back in utter silence, and very slowly--for they were close to the spot
wherein, as they supposed, the object of their chase was laid up; and as
yet but two of his paths were guarded toward the plain; Jem and his
comrades having long since got with the hounds into his rear, and
waiting only for the rising of the sun to lay them on, and push along
the channel of the brook.
This would compel him to break covert, either directly from the swamp,
or by one of the dry gorges mentioned. Now, therefore, was the crisis of
the whole matter; for if--before the other passes were made good--the
stag should take alarm, he might steal off without affording a chance of
a shot, and get into the mountains to the right, where they might hunt
him for a week in vain.
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