"We can sleep in the daytime and travel at night."
They followed the brook for over a mile. Then the waterway appeared to double on its course, and they left it and continued to journey northward. Here the forest was not so heavy and consequently they covered the ground at a better rate of speed. They looked back many times, but no Indians came into view.
"I reckon as how we got the best on 'em," said Barringford, coming to a brief halt. "The trail through the thickets and along the brook has baffled 'em."
"I hope we never see them again," said Dave, shuddering. "It was a grand thing for you to act as you did."
"I remembered of a hunter in Bedford deestrict doing that same, Dave. He got the Injuns so worked up none o' 'em would come anywhar near him."
They had lost all their provisions and other things, and the old frontiersman was capless, for which, however, as the weather was warm, he did not care. Coming to a spring among the rocks, both took a drink and bathed their faces and hands. A squirrel was close at hand and Dave brought him down with an arrow.
"That will give us a bite to-night," he said. "And if we reach the lake we can do a little fishing."
The course was now directly down a gentle slope leading to the lake shore. The forest was thick, and more than once they got caught in a pocket and had to go around. There were pitfalls among the rocks, and Dave went down once, barking his shin and scratching his hand.
But such mishaps now counted for nothing. Having escaped from the enemy both felt light-hearted, and they kept tramping along until sunset. Then Barringford had Dave boost him up into a tree.
"The lake is just ahead," he announced. "There is a cove to the left, which I think will make a fust-rate stopping-place."