They hurried on, looking back every few steps, but the Indians did not again show themselves.
"Sure you didn't make a mistake?" asked the man presently.
"No, I am sure I saw them," declared Mark. "One was a little ahead of the others."
"Armed?"
"I didn't notice, but they must be."
"We'd stand a poor show of defending ourselves against a reg'lar band o' redskins," muttered Josiah Socket. "Wish we was to the cabins and safe indoors."
"So do I."
With the Indians on their trail—for they felt certain they were being followed—all thoughts of resting for the night were driven from the mind of each. Yet they felt they could not go two whole days and a night without a stop of some sort.
By nightfall it was snowing harder than ever, and Mark suggested they leave the regular trail and sneak into the forest to the southward.
"The snow will cover our footprints and maybe they will lose us in the darkness," he added.