Walking deliberately to the summit, he
glanced eagerly about him in every direction in quest of a cover.
None offered in the ground, but a fallen tree lay near him, and
desperate circumstances required desperate remedies. This tree lay
in a line parallel to the glen, at the brow of the hill. To leap
on it, and then to force his person as close as possible under its
lower side, took but a moment. Previously to disappearing from his
pursuers, however, Deerslayer stood on the height and gave a cry
of triumph, as if exulting at the sight of the descent that lay
before him. In the next instant he was stretched beneath the tree.
No sooner was this expedient adopted, than the young man ascertained
how desperate had been his own efforts, by the violence of
the pulsations in his frame. He could hear his heart beat, and
his breathing was like the action of a bellows, in quick motion.
Breath was gained, however, and the heart soon ceased to throb as
if about to break through its confinement. The footsteps of those
who toiled up the opposite side of the acclivity were now audible,
and presently voices and treads announced the arrival of the
pursuers. The foremost shouted as they reached the height; then,
fearful that their enemy would escape under favor of the descent,
each leaped upon the fallen tree and plunged into the ravine,
trusting to get a sight of the pursued ere he reached the bottom.
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