He knew nothing of the country on that side . But the uncertainty was better than the certainty behind him . He could hear the sound of the oars as the hunter in the boat did his best to get to him before he should reach the shore . On Lightfoot struggled . At last he felt bottom beneath his feet . He staggered up through some bushes along the bank and then for an instant it seemed to him his heart stopped beating . Right in front of him stood a man . He had come out into the back yard of the home of that man . It is doubtful which was the more surprised , Lightfoot or the man . Right then and there Lightfoot gave up in despair . He could n't run . It was all he could do to walk . The long chase by the hounds on the other side of the Big River and the long swim across the Big River had taken all his strength . Not a spark of hope remained to Lightfoot . He simply stood still and trembled , partly with fear and partly with weariness . Then a surprising thing happened . The man spoke softly . He advanced , not threateningly but slowly , and in a friendly way . He walked around back of Lightfoot and then straight towards him . Lightfoot walked on a few steps , and the man followed , still talking softly .
Little by little he urged XXXXX on , driving him towards an open shed in which was a pile of hay .
Lightfoot Right River back boat chase feet heart home oars