Hitherto following him with forced obedience, it now trembled, and showed a strong determination to go back.

There was an expression, in its owner's eye it had never seen before--something that terribly frayed it.

But it could not now do this, though ever so inclined.

With its ribs close pressing the rocks on each side, it was unable to turn; while the bridle drawn firmly in front hindered it from retiring.
Hamersley, busily engaged in loading the rifles, nevertheless found time to glance at Wilder's doings, wondering what he was about.
"It air a pity!" soliloquised the latter, repeating his former words in similar tones of commiseration.

"F'r all that, the thing must be done.
If thar war a rock big enough, or a log, or anythin'.