by a single blow, whilst the dogs were literally tearing out the throats of their victims.  In the course of about ten minutes, what between Shawn’s middogue and the terrible fangs and strength of those dreadful animals, the four men lay there four corpses.  Shawn’s danger, however, notwithstanding his success, was only increasing.  His pursuers had now gained upon him, and when he looked around he found himself hemmed in, or nearly so.  Speed of foot was everything; but, what was worst of all, with reference to his ultimate escape, four other dogs were making their way up the mountains—­dogs to which he was a stranger, and he knew right well that they would hunt him with all the deadly instincts of blood.  They were, however, far in the distance, and he felt little apprehension from them.  Be this as it may, he bounded off accompanied by his faithful friends, and not less than twenty shots were fired after him, none of which touched him.  The number of his pursuers, dogs included, almost made his heart sink; and would have done so, but that he was probably desperate and reckless of life.  He saw himself almost encompassed; he heard the bullets whistling about him, and perceived at a glance that the chances of his escape were a thousand to one against him.  With a rapid sweep of his eye he marked the locality.  It also was all against him.  There was a shoreless lake, abrupt and deep to the very edge, except a slip at the opposite side, lying at his feet.  It was oblong, but at each end of it there was nothing like a pass for at least two or three miles.  If he could swim across this he knew that he was safe, and that he could do so he felt certain, provided he escaped the bullets and the dogs of the pursuers.  At all events he dashed down and plunged in, accompanied by his faithful attendants.  Shot after shot was sent after him; and so closely did some of them reach him, that he was obliged to dive and swim under water from time to time, in order to save himself from their aim.  The strange bloodhounds, however, which had entered the lake, were gaining rapidly on him, and on looking back he saw them within a dozen yards of him.  He was now, however, beyond the reach of their bullets, unless it might be a longer shot than ordinary, but the four dogs were upon him, and in the extremity of despair he shouted out,—­“Finn and Oonah, won’t you save me?” Shame upon the friendship and attachment of man!  In a moment two of the most powerful of the strange dogs were in something that resembled a death struggle with his brave and gallant defenders.  The other two, however, were upon himself; but by a stab of his middogue he despatched one of them, and the other he pressed under water until he was drowned.

In the meantime, whilst the four other dogs were fighting furiously in the water, Shawn, having felt exhausted, was obliged to lie on his back and float, in order to regain his strength.

A little before this contest commenced, the black mask and a number of the pursuing party were standing on the edge of the lake looking on, conscious of the impossibility of their interference.