If she had blamed him for his prudent reserve, she should have full opportunity to forgive him.

All that he had been she should know, but far more important than that, he would try to make her know, better than he had done before, what he was now.

Abandoning all his previous positions, and mounted on these strong resolutions, thus would he dash into her camp, and hope to capture her.
Reaching the little ravine, at the bottom of which flowed the branch, now but two or three feet wide, he ran down the rather steep slope and stepped upon the stout plank which bridged the stream.

The instant he did so, the plank turned beneath him as if it had been hung on pivots, and he fell into the stony bed of the branch.

It was an awkward fall, for the leg which was undermost came down at an angle, and his foot, striking a slippery stone, turned under him.