The Most Dangerous Mane

Continuation~

Chapter 4

The Devil's Game

‘’Suppose he refuses to be hunted?’’, said Rainhoof in confusion.

‘’Oh,’’ said the general, ‘’I give him his option, of course. He need not play that game if he doesn’t wish to. If he does not wish to hunt, I turn him over to Bern. Bern once had the honor of serving as official knouter in the army, and he has his own ideas of 'business'. Invariably, Mr. Rainhoof, invariably they choose the hunt.’’

‘’And if they win?’’

The smile on the general’s face widened. ‘’To date I have not lost,’’ he said.

Then he added, hastily: ‘’I don’t wish you to think me a braggart, Mr. Rainhoof. Many of them afford only the most elementary sort of problem. One of them almost did win. I eventually had to use the dogs.’’

‘’The dogs?’’

‘’This way, please. I’ll show you.’’

The general steered Rainhoof to a window. The lights from the windows sent a flickering illumination that made grotesque patterns on the courtyard below, and Rainhoof could see moving about there a dozen or so huge black shapes; as they turned toward him, their huge yellow eyes glittered gently.

‘’A rather good lot, I think,’’ observed the general. ‘’They are let out at seven every night. If anyone dares try to get into my house----or out of it---something extremely regrettable would occur to him.’’

‘’And now,’’ said the general, ‘’I want to show you my new collection of heads. Will you come with me to the library?’’

‘’I hope,’’ said Rainhoof, ‘’that you will excuse me tonight, General Red. I’m not really feeling at all well.’’

‘’Ah, indeed?’’ the general inquired solicitously. ‘’Well, I suppose that’s only natural, after your long swim. You need a good, restful night’s sleep. Tomorrow you’ll feel like a new man, I’ll wager. Then we hunt, eh? I’ve one rather promising prospect---‘’

Rainhoof was hurrying from the room.

‘’Sorry you can’t go with me tonight, ‘’ called the general. ‘’I expect rather fair sport—a big, strong black. He looks

resourceful—Well, good night, Mr. Rainhoof; I hope you have a good night’s sleep.

The bed was good and the pajamas of the softest silk, and he was tired in every fiber of his being, but nevertheless Rainhoof could not quiet his brain with the opiate of sleep. He laid, eyes wide open. Once he thought he heard stealthy steps in the corridor outside his room. He sought to throw open the door; it would not open. He went to the window and

looked out. His room was high up in one of the towers. The light of the country house were out now, and it was dark and

silent, but there was a fragment of sallow moon. And by its wan light he could see, dimly, the courtyard; there, weaving in and out in the patter of shadow, were black, noiseless forms; the hounds heard him at the window and looked up, expectantly, with their huge, yellow eyes. Rainhoof went back to the bed and lay down. By many methods he tried to put himself to sleep. He had achieved a doze when, just as morning began to come, he heard, far off in the dense jungle, the faint report of a pistol.

General Red did not appear until luncheon. He was dressed faultlessly in the tweeds of a country squire.  He was solicitous about the state of Rainhoof’s health.

‘’As for me,’’ said the general, ‘’I do not feel so well. I am worried, Mr. Rainhoof. Last night I detected traces of my old complaint.’’

To Rainhoof’s questioning glance the general said: ‘’Ennui. Boredom.’’

Then, taking a second helping of pancakes, then the general explained: ‘’The hunting was not good last night. The fellow lost his head. He made a straight trail that offered no problems at all. That’s the problems with these sailors; they have dull brains to begin with, and they do not know how to get about the woods. It’s most annoying. Will you have another glass of water, Mr. Rainhoof?’’

‘’General,’’ said Rainhoof firmly, ‘’I wish to leave this island at once.’’

The general raised his thickets of eyebrows; he seemed hurt. ‘’But my dear fellow,’’ the general protested, ‘’you’ve only just come. You’ve had no hunting…’’

‘’I wish to go today,’’ said Rainhoof. He saw the dead black eyes of the general on him, studying him. General Red’s face suddenly brightened. He filled Rainhoof’s glass with venerable pure water from a dusty bottle.

‘’Tonight,’’ said the general,’’ we will hunt…you and I.’’

Rainhoof shook his head. ‘’No, he general,’’ he said, slamming his hoof on the table, ‘’I will not hunt.’’

The general shrugged and delicately ate a hothouse grape. ‘’As you wish, my friend,’’ he said. ‘’The choice rests entirely with you. But may I not venture to suggest that you will find my idea of sport more entertaining than Bern’s?’’ He nodded toward the corner where the giant stood.

‘’You don’t mean...’’ cried Rainhoof.

‘’My dear fellow,’’ said the general,’’ have I not told you…that I always mean what I say about—hunting? This is really an inspiration. I drink to a foepony worthy of my steel—at last.’’

The general raised his glass, but Rainhoof sat, staring at him.

‘’You will find this game worthy playing,’’ the general said enthusiastically. ‘’Your brain against mine. Your woodcraft against mine. Your strength and stamina against mine. Your determination against mine. Outdoor chess! And the stake is not without value, eh?’’

‘’And if I win—‘’ Rainhoof began huskily.

‘’I’ll cheerfully acknowledge myself defeated if I do not find you by midnight of the third day,’’ said General Red. ‘’My sloop will place you one the mainland near 10 miles from here.’’

The general read what Rainhoof was thinking.

‘’Oh, you can trust me,’’ said the general, as he was pouring a cup of wine.

‘’I will give you my word. Of course you, in turn, must agree to say nothing of your visit here.’’

‘’I’ll agree to nothing of the kind,’’ said Rainhoof.

‘’Oh,’’ said the general, ‘’in that case—But why discuss that now? Three days hence we can discuss it over a bottle of good ol’ wine, unless…’’

The general sipped his wine.

Then a businesslike air animated him. ‘’Bern,’’ he said to Rainhoof, ‘’will supply you with hunting clothes, food, a knife. I suggest you wear leather boots; they leave a poorer trail. I suggest too that you avoid the big swamp in the southwest corner of the island. We call it Death Swamp. There’s quicksand there. One foolish fellow tried it. The regrettable part of it that another fellow followed him. You can imagine my feelings, Mr. Rainhoof. I loved him; he was the finest hound in my pack. Well, I must beg you to excuse me now. I always sleep after lunch. You’ll hardly have time for a nap, I fear. You’ll want to start, no doubt. I shall not follow till dusk. Hunting at night is so much exciting than by day, don’t you think? Mr. Rainhoof, goodbye.’’

General Red, with a deep, courtly bow, strolled from the room.

From another door came Bern. In this both front hooves he carried a brown – leather- jacket, a blue sweatband, a haversack of food, a leather sheath containing a large hunting knife; and on his mouth a cocked revolver waiting for it to be shoot…