To and fro the huntsmen swooped in screeching and chattering and then suddenly a brilliant crash in mid-air. A pair of huntsmen had become entangled and the beast that held its death grip upon Hakon at long last released his hold. Hakon screamed falling towards the earth until branch after branch hit his backside. The twigs and branches slowed Hakon's descent until his staff became trapped between two limbs and the boys tumble was abruptly stopped. Dangling only by a single hand the Apprentice with his small frame summoned all his strength to swing upward and grasp his staff with both hands. A sigh of relief came over him, but he still dangled over death's doorway and he searched around for a way to escape it. Within a legs reach was another branch, if only he could swing over.
“Come on!”
