The huge beast's fore paws and muzzle were streaked with the unromantic household provision, and heightened the absurd contrast of its incongruous members.

The woman, apparently indifferent, had taken that opportunity to partly free one of her wrists.
"If we hadn't been cavorting round this yer spot for the last half hour, I'd swear there was a shanty not a hundred yards away," said the sheriff.
The other man, without replying, remounted his horse instantly.
"If there is, and it's inhabited by a gentleman that kin make centre shots like that in the dark, and don't care to explain how, I reckon I won't disturb him." The sheriff was apparently of the same opinion, for he followed his companion's example, and once more led the way.

The spurs tinkled, the torches danced, and the cavalcade slowly reentered the gloom.

In another moment it had disappeared.
The wood sank again into repose, this time disturbed by neither shape nor sound.

What lower forms of life might have crept close to its roots were hidden in the ferns, or passed with deadened tread over the bark-strewn floor.