"Gravity," said Eva, when they had gone but a short distance, "I thought you were lame a while ago?"
"Wal, what ob it?"
"You don't show a bit of lameness now."
To the surprise of his friends, the African laughed heartily.
"Dat war a joke ob mine; I warn't hurt at all, but war jes pretendin'."
"Why did you do that?"
"To fool the Injuns: I war thinkin' dat if dey seed I war lame, dey would think I couldn't run, and would lebe me to scoop up arter a while, and den I'd get de start on' em. Shouldn't wonder if I done it, too."
There was no discussion of this original strategy, which possibly did prove of some benefit to the sable fugitive.
The company pressed on until they reached a point perhaps an eighth of a mile from the river, when, as by common consent, a halt was made.
No path was followed, but they had scrambled along as best they could, and now paused, where, for the time at least, they were alone.