The chief, however, was for nobler sport.

He seized Colter by the shoulder, and demanded if he could run fast.

The unfortunate trapper was too well acquainted with Indian customs not to comprehend the drift of the question.

He knew he was to run for his life, to furnish a kind of human hunt to his persecutors.

Though in reality he was noted among his brother hunters for swiftness of foot, he assured the chief that he was a very bad runner.