Brave and swift and strong
though she were, what chance had she against a man of his strength
and inches, frantic, too, and intent on horrid revenge against his
brother, his successful rival?
Mile after mile he followed with a bursting heart; more piteous,
more tragic, seemed the case at this evidence of White Fell's
splendid supremacy, holding her own so long against Christian's
famous speed. So long, so long that his love and admiration grew
more and more boundless, and his grief and indignation therewith
also. Whenever the track lay clear he ran, with such reckless
prodigality of strength, that it soon was spent, and he dragged on
heavily, till, sometimes on the ice of a mere, sometimes on a
wind-swept place, all signs were lost; but, so undeviating had
been their line that a course straight on, and then short questing
to either hand, recovered them again.
Hour after hour had gone by through more than half that winter
day, before ever he came to the place where the trampled snow
showed that a scurry of feet had come--and gone! Wolves' feet--and
gone most amazingly! Only a little beyond he came to the lopped
point of Christian's bear-spear; farther on he would see where the
remnant of the useless shaft had been dropped. The snow here was
dashed with blood, and the footsteps of the two had fallen closer
together. Some hoarse sound of exultation came from him that might
have been a laugh had breath sufficed.
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