But what an endless minute that was, whilst he felt the grip upon his body growing firmer as the giant prepared to lift him.
What was that?
"Crack!"-- a sudden flash from the dark underwood, and with a loud cry his captor dropped him, and staggered backwards, to fall a few paces farther on, where he lay rigid and motionless.

Then from the thicket there came the sound of a quick sharp cry, and a slim figure rushed forward with the gasping question: "Is he dead?
Oh, have I killed him ?" And Cuthbert, raising his head, and scarce believing aught of this could be anything but a fevered dream, uttered the one word: "Petronella!".