after her in determined pursuit. Indeed the pirates were not to be allowed the triumph of stealing Hulda !
On the more open ground below Dick succeeded in slowing her a little and Nicholas, flying through the thickets, like a streak of white lightning, to leap and bark beneath her very nose, managed to turn her back up the hill. Here the boys were able to gain on her terrified speed once more, and, on Hugh's closing in and turning her again, she ran close by Dick, who triumphantly seized her by the halter and brought her to a standstill.
“I've got her,” he shouted to Hugh, raising his arm high in signal of victory. “She's—ouch!”
For a sharp report sounded from a thicket and a bullet, speeding just over Dick's head, nipped his uplifted hand. Hugh, on coming up, found him applying his thumb to his mouth, as undisturbed as though he had scratched it with a pin. Poor Hulda still plunged and dragged at her halter, her sides heaving and her gentle eyes wide with fright.
