Page:Redcoat (1927).djvu/198

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came out of the woods and once more headed northward he had regained the lost twenty rods and was once more leading by a furlong. But, the terrific pace was telling on him. His tongue was out and his brush was down, while his breath came in hard quick pants. It seemed to the straining fox that his heart must burst with the effort as he raced back northward with the hounds and the men gaining steadily upon him. He must break through the cordon in the roadway and get back to the mountain or they would surely catch him. As he neared the highway, the men divined his intent and the horsemen behind spurred forward to overtake him, while the men on the highway once again set up a great shouting to drive him back. In his confusion, Redcoat's wits seemed to forsake him. He completely lost his head and turned and ran straight towards the river. The eight horsemen who up to this time had waited to drive him back from the road now joined the rest of the party and the twenty mounted men and the hounds swept down to