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of his snowshoes； he shot downward like one taking a tremendous slide on a toboggan。 Faster and faster he went； but deeper and deeper he dug his shoes into the snow； until he lay back almost flat against its surface。 This checked his speed somewhat； but it was still very great； and； preserving his self…control perfectly； he prayed aloud to kindly Providence to save him from some great boulder or abrupt drop。
The snow from his runners flew in a continuous shower behind him as he descended。 Yet he drew himself compactly together； and held his rifle parallel with his body。 Once or twice； as he went over a little ridge； he shot clear of the snow； but he held his body rigid； and the snow beyond saved him from a severe bruise。 Then his speed was increased again； and all the time the white surface of the lake below； seen dimly through the night and his flight； seemed miles away。
He might never reach that surface alive； but of one thing lie was sure。 None of the Iroquois or Tories had dared to follow。 Braxton Wyatt could have no triumph over him。 He was alone in his great flight。 Once a projection caused him to turn a little to one side。 He was in momentary danger of turning entirely； and then of rolling head over heels like a huge snowball； but with a mighty effort he righted himself； and continued the descent on the runners； with the heels plowing into the ice and the snow。
Now that white expanse which had seemed so far away came miles nearer。 Presently he would be there。 The impossible had become possible； the unattainable was about to be attained。 He gave another mighty dig with his shoes； the last reach of the slope passed behind him； and he shot out on the frozen surface of the lake； bruised and breathless； but without a single broken bone。
The lake was covered with ice a foot thick； and over this lay frozen snow； which stopped Henry forty or fifty yards from the cliff。 There he lost his balance at last； and fell on his side； where he lay for a few moments； weak； panting； but triumphant。
When he stood upright again he felt his body； but he had suffered nothing save some bruises； that would heal in their own good time。 His deerskin clothing was much torn； particularly on the back； where he had leaned upon the ice and snow； but the folded blanket had saved him to a considerable extent。 One of his shoes was pulled loose； and presently he discovered that his left ankle was smarting and burning at a great rate。 But he did not mind these things at all； so complete was his sense of victory。 He looked up at the mighty white wall that stretched above him fifteen hundred feet； and he wondered at his own tremendous exploit。 The wall ran away for miles； and the Iroquois could not reach him by any easier path。 He tried to make out figures on the brink looking down at him； but it was too far away； and he saw only a black line。
He tightened the loose shoe and struck out across the lake。 He was far away from 〃The Alcove；〃 and he did not intend to go there； lest the Iroquois； by chance； come upon his trail and follow it to the refuge。 But as it was no more than two miles across the lake at that point； and the Iroquois would have to make a great curve to reach the other side； he felt perfectly safe。 He walked slowly across； conscious all the time of an increasing pain in his left ankle； which must now be badly swollen； and he did not stop until he penetrated some distance among low bills。 Here； under an overhanging cliff with thick bushes in front； he found a partial shelter； which he cleared out yet further。 Then with infinite patience he built a fire with splinters that he cut from dead boughs； hung his blanket in front of it on two sticks that the flame might not be seen； took off his snowshoes； leggins； and socks； and bared his ankles。 Both were swollen； but the left much more badly than the other。 He doubted whether he would be able to walk on the following day； but he rubbed them a long time； both with the palms of his hands and with snow； until they felt better。 Then he replaced his clothing； leaned back against the faithful snowshoes which had saved his life； however much they had hurt his ankles； and gave himself up to the warmth of the fire。
It was very luxurious； this warmth and this rest； after so long and terrible a flight； and he was conscious of a great relaxation； one which； if he yielded to it completely； would make his muscles so stiff and painful that he could not use them。 Hence he stretched his arms and legs many times； rubbed his ankles again； and then； remembering that he had venison； ate several strips。
He knew that he had taken a little risk with the fire； but a fire he was bound to have； and he fed it again until he had a great mass of glowing coals； although there was no blaze。 Then he took down the blanket； wrapped himself in it； and was soon asleep before the fire。 He slept long and deeply； and although； when he awoke； the day had fully come； the coals were not yet out entirely。 He arose； but such a violent pain from his left ankle shot through him that he abruptly sat down again。 As he bad feared； it had swollen badly during the night； and he could not walk。
In this emergency Henry displayed no petulance； no striving against unchangeable circumstance。 He drew up more wood； which he had stacked against the cliff； and put it on the coals。 He hung up the blanket once more in order that it might hide the fire； stretched out his lame leg； and calmly made a breakfast off the last of his venison。 He knew be was in a plight that might appall the bravest； but be kept himself in hand。 It was likely that the Iroquois thought him dead； crushed into a shapeless mass by his frightful slide of fifteen hundred feet； and he had little fear of them； but to be unable to walk and alone in an icy wilderness without food was sufficient in itself。 He calculated that it was at least a dozen miles to 〃The Alcove；〃 and the chances were a hundred to one against any of his comrades wandering his way。 He looked once more at his swollen left ankle； and he made a close calculation。 It would be three days； more likely four； before he could walk upon it。 Could he endure hunger that long？ He could。 He would！ Crouched in his nest with his back to the cliff； he had defense against any enemy in his rifle and pistol。 By faithful watching he might catch sight of some wandering animal； a target for his rifle and then food for his stomach。 His wilderness wisdom warned him that there was nothing to do but sit quiet and wait。
He scarcely moved for hours。 As long as he was still his ankle troubled him but little。 The sun came out； silver bright； but it had no warmth。 The surface of the lake was shown only by the smoothness of its expanse； the icy covering was the same everywhere over hills and valleys。 Across the lake he saw the steep down which he had slid； looming white and lofty。 In the distance it looked perpendicular； and； whatever its terrors； it had； beyond a doubt； saved his life。 He glanced down at his swollen ankle； and； despite his helpless situation； he was thankful that he had escaped so well。
About noon he moved enough to throw up the snowbanks higher all around himself in the fashion of an Eskimos house。 Then he let the fire die except some coals that gave forth no smoke； stretched the blanket over his head in the manner of a roof； and once more resumed his quiet and stillness。 He was now like a crippled animal in its lair； but he was warm； and his wound did not hurt him。 But hunger began to trouble him。 He was young and so powerful that his frame demanded much sustenance。 Now it cried aloud its need！ He ate two or three handfuls of snow； and for a few moments it seemed to help him a little； but his hunger soon came back as strong as ever。 Then he tightened his belt and sat in grim silence； trying to forget that there was any such thing as food。
The effort of the will was almost a success throughout the afternoon； but before night it failed。 He began to have roseate visions of Long Jim trying venison； wild duck； bear； and buffalo steaks over the coals。 He could sniff the aroma； so powerful had his imagination become； and； in fancy； his month watered