headthemhawssesoff。Imaynotgetbackrightaway。“Hegallopeduptheopenhillandwentintothepine，choosingaplaceabovewherethevagrantshaddisappeared。
Balaamdismounted，andpickinguphissix-shooter，tooktheropeoffPedro’sneckanddrovehimslowlydowntowardwherethewoodbegan。Itsinteriorwasalreadydim，andBalaamsawthatheremustbetheirstopping-placeto-night，sincetherewasnotellinghowwidethispinestripmightextendalongthetrailbeforetheycouldcomeoutofitandreachanothersuitablecamping-ground。
Pedrohadrecoveredhisstrength，andhenowshowedsignsofrestlessness。Heshiedwheretherewasnotevenastoneinthetrail，andfinallyturnedsharplyround。Balaamexpectedhewasgoingtorushbackonthewaytheyhadcome；butthehorsestoodstill，breathingexcitedly。Hewasurgedforwardagain，thoughheturnedmorethanonce。Butwhentheywereafewpacesfromthewood，andBalaamhadgotoffpreparatorytocamping，thehorsesnortedanddashedintothewater，andstoodstillthere。TheastonishedBalaamfollowedtoturnhim；butPedroseemedtolosecontrolofhimself，andplungedtothemiddleoftheriver，andwasevidentlyintendingtocross。Fearingthathewouldescapetotheoppositemeadowandaddtotheirdifficulties，Balaam，withtheideaofturninghimround，drewhissix-shooterandfiredinfrontofthehorse，divining，evenastheflashcutthedusk，thesecretofallthis——theIndians；buttoolate。Hisbruisedhandhadstiffened，marringhisaim，andhesawPedrofalloverinthewaterthenriseandstruggleupthebankonthefarthershore，wherehenowhurriedalso，tofindthathehadbrokenthepony’sleg。
Heneedednointerpreterforthevoicesoftheseemingowlsthathadhauntedthelatterhouroftheirjourney，andheknewthathisbeast’skeenerinstincthadperceivedthedestructionthatlurkedintheinteriorofthewood。Thehistoryofthetrapperwhosehorsehadreturnedwithouthimmighthavebeen——mightstillbe——hisown；andhethoughtoftheragthathadfallenfromthebuzzard’stalonswhenhehadbeendisturbedathismealinthemarsh。“Peaceable“Indianswerestillinthesemountains，andsomefewofthemhadforthepasthourbeenskirtinghisjourneyunseen，andnowwaitedforhiminthewoodwhichtheyexpectedhimtoenter。Theyhadbeentoowarytousetheirriflesorshowthemselves，lestthesetravellersshouldbeonlypartofalargercompanyfollowing，whowouldhearthenoiseofashot，andcatchthemintheactofmurder。So，safeunderthecoverofthepines，theyhadplannedtoslingtheirsilentnoose，anddragthewhitemanfromhishorseashepassedthroughthetrees。
Balaamlookedovertheriverattheominouswood，andthenhelookedatPedro，thehorsethathehadfirstmaimedandnowruined，towhomheprobablyowedhislife。Hewaslyingontheground，quietlylookingoverthegreenmeadow，whereduskwasgathering。Perhapshewasnotsufferingfromhiswoundyet，asherestedontheground；andintohisanimalintelligencethereprobablycamenoknowledgeofthisfinalstrokeofhisfate。Atanyrate，nosoundofpaincamefromPedro，whosefriendlyandgentlefaceremainedturnedtowardthemeadow。OncemoreBalaamfiredhispistol，andthistimetheaimwastrue，andthehorserolledover，withaballthroughhisbrain。Itwasthebestrewardthatremainedforhim。