He told him, too, why death had not come to him through
starvation, as had been intended, and that it had taken him all that
time to force apart the links of the chain, when he found that there was
no one to hear or prevent, no matter how much noise he made in so doing.
He had seen the revolver, which had been forgotten, and little imagining
it would be of such vital use, had thrust it in his pocket and started
forth to make his way back to New York, when he unexpectedly came upon
the scene of the bear under the tree, and a fellow-being in deadly
peril.
"You saved me--me," cried Halloran, huskily, "your deadly foe, who
tried to rob you of your life."
"It was my duty, 'Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord,'" quoted Lester,
quietly.
Halloran fell on his knees, covering the other's hands with passionate
kisses, tears falling like rain from his eyes.
"From this hour the life that you have saved shall be devoted to
you--and God!" he cried brokenly. "Oh, will Heaven ever forgive me for
the past? There are two bullets left in the revolver; you ought to shoot
me dead at your feet, Lester Armstrong.
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