A hunter's LIFE. 43 



there I hung, like a bull-dog, trying my best to bite out 

 the whole of what was in my mouth. She stopped whip- 

 I)ing me, and said that if I did not let go my hold she 

 would beat me to death. 



" ' Will you let me go ? ' she said. 



"Ah, old fellow, thought I, if I let go to tell you I 

 won't do it (which 1 am determined not to do), then, when 

 Diy hold is broken, I may not again get so good a chance ; 

 and when she repeated, ' Won't you let go, you devil ? ' I 

 shook my head in token that I would not, clenched my 

 teeth, and threw my head from side to side to get the 

 mouthful out. But her skin was so tough that 1 could not 

 tear it. Finding me deaf to all she said, she had no re- 

 medy but to fight ; and at it she went again. She tried 

 to kick me off with the other foot ; but I was in such 

 close quarters that she could do me but little harm. Fi- 

 nally, I began to suffer for want of air, on account of my 

 mouth being pressed down so close to her flesh, and my head 

 l)eiug covered up under her clothes ; and from long fight- 

 ing, the old woman had become so hot that what little air 

 I did breathe was as stifling as if it had been heated in a 

 stove. Completely exhausted, I was compelled to open 

 my mouth to catch my breath, and trust to chances for the 

 balance of the fight. I rose to my feet ; and, though by 

 this time she was quite out of breath, she picked up an- 

 other switch and laid over me with all her strength, say- 

 li.g, ' Won't you cry for me, you you ? ' 



" I told her that if she beat me to death I would not 

 cry for her; 'For,' said I, 'that would please you too 

 well ; and I tell you that you are not able, nor you never 

 shall make me cry again.' 



" ' Yes, you scoundrel, I have been suckling till 



f am so weak that I can't master you any more.' 



' 'Thank God fo it!' said I 'You have not made 



