His bulk told against him; and behind him he heard the quick thump of Oscar's feet on the turf.

The starlight grew dimmer through tracts of white scud; the surface of the pasture was rougher to the feet than it appeared to the eye.

A hound in the Claiborne stable-yard bayed suddenly and the sound echoed from the surrounding houses and drifted off toward the sheepfold.

Then a noble music rose from the kennels.
Captain Claiborne, waiting for his sister on the veranda, looked toward the stables, listening.
Zmai approached the sheep-sheds rapidly, with still a hundred yards to traverse beyond them before he should reach the pasture wall.

His rage at thus being driven by a small man for whom he had great contempt did not help his wind or stimulate the flight of his heavy legs, and he saw now that he would lessen the narrowing margin between himself and his pursuer if he swerved to the right to clear the sheds.