"Fool," said he, "one shot from your pistol would put you in a hornet's nest. If I choose to shout, a hundred braves will surround the lodge." "As to the alarm, I care nothing for that; knew I couldn't do any work without raising it; but I swear you shan't shout again in this world, though you may in the one below us. Die, you dog." The sudden startling crack of a revolver rang out. Red Goliath had fired. There was an awful shudder on the part of Hoskins; a gurgling sound as if he was trying to curse his slayer, and then the stricken man fell to the ground shot through the heart. Turning on the creole, Red Goliath again raised his death-dealing revolver. Pedro had slunk away and was crouching on the ground. At this contemptible display of cowardice, the giant gave him a hearty kick of derision, in order to induce him to stand erect; but it only had the effect of flattening the miscreant out still more. There was no time to waste, as the Indians must already be alarmed. Firing two shots into the dark corner where Pedro had crouched, the giant hurriedly replaced his weapons. Then like a flash he seized upon Adele, lifted her light form as easily as if she had been a feather, and dashed out. An Indian met him just beyond the lodge. One sweep of the giant's disengaged arm sent him to the ground like a ten-pin overwhelmed by a ball. Although braves were appearing in every direction, Red Goliath sped onward like an antelope, the burden he carried appeared as nothing. The village was soon left behind, and when the open ground was at length gained, two shadowy figures flitting close behind him proclaimed the fact that these were his only pursuers. To get rid of them was an easy task to a man like the Hercules, who was well versed in every detail of fight and strategy, and armed into the bargain. Again the revolver came into play. Suddenly halting, and wheeling in his tracks, he presented the weapon. With its first crack one of the pursuers described a parabola in the air, as if he had leaped from a spring-board, and upon touching the ground lay very, very quiet. The second attempted to dodge, but soon found out that lead can travel mortally fast when driven by powder. He made his way into camp half an hour later with a broken arm, and the bullet lodged in his side. Having thus rid himself of both pursuers, the giant once more rushed along. The river bank was gained, and also the canoe. "Whoop! hurrah! won it, by George! run the gauntlet too," said the daring man to himself, as he placed Adele, too powerless with terror to resist, in the boat; and after pushing the craft off, sprang in himself. Young Mason had been so taken aback by the giant's sudden shots and his rapid flight that even had he so wished he could have done nothing to prevent him. Before he actually realized what had occurred, Red Goliath had vanished from the lodge, carrying the boy's darling sister with him.