For, in spite of the long imprisonment at the settler’s place, the knowledge of the prisoners was confined to the river and the clearings about the house. Certainly they had had a view of the distant hills; but all beyond the plantation, save towards the swamp, was unknown land.
“We can’t do better than go on, Pete,” said Nic, after following the dogs for about an hour.
“Don’t see as we can, zir. They’re hunting after zomething they’ve got the zmell of, and maybe, if we cross their scent, they may begin hunting us; zo I zay let ’em go. You zee, they’re mostly kep’ chained up in them gashly kennels o’ theirs; and they’re enjoying a run in the woods. Any idee where we be?”
“Not the slightest, Pete; but at any rate we’re free.”
“Till we’re ketched again, Master Nic. But I zay, you’ll show fight if they should catch up to uz?”
“Yes, Pete; I should feel so desperate that I should be ready to die sooner than give up now.”
“That’s me all over, lad,” said Pete. “I zay, though; couldn’t get to be more friends still wi’ the dogs, and make ’em fight for uz, could we?”
Nic laughed bitterly, and then stopped short, for the yelping had ceased.
“Can you hear the hounds now?”
A sharp burst of barking a short distance away told of their direction, and after wandering in and out among the trees for a few minutes, they found the three great creatures apparently waiting for them to come up before starting off again.