56 WILD SPORTS IN THE SOUTH. 



pecan trees, and at that instant a low snort was heard 

 from the shadow near us, like the cough of a dog. 



Poke did not say a word ; but, dropping the gun, and 

 seizing a limb of one of the trees over his head, with an 

 agility for which I had never given him the least credit, 

 elevated himself to the crotch, about ten feet from the 

 ground. 



I did not want to do anything of the kind, of course 

 not ; I would rather have placed my back against a tree, 

 and won a glorious death in battle against my numerous 

 foes ; but, alack ! for a bad example, I dropped the torch, 

 that broke in pieces in falling, and, clasping the nearest 

 tree, which happened to be a medium-sized gum-tree, soon 

 scrambled up to a place of safety. Lucky was it for me 

 that I had that torch in my hand, for when it fell, it lay 

 scattered around the base of the tree, still nickering and 

 flashing in the darkness, and the animals that had sur- 

 rounded us, as they saw their prey escaping, rushed for- 

 ward with an angry noise ; they saw the glowing embers, 

 and held back just long enough to permit my escape. As 

 I drew myself up on the first limb, a rush of gratitude 

 passed over my soul, and my feelings were as warm as a 

 child's. Nothing could be seen, for the sombre forest shut 

 out the little light there was in the atmosphere, but I 

 heard the pattering of feet beneath my fortress, like fall- 

 ing rain. Back and forward they came and went, and 

 snorting sounds and champing teeth made the black night 

 alive with imaginary shapes. I wondered how it fared 

 with the Doctor, yet dared not call, for the uncertainty 



