"They would discover in the morning that the canoe was gone," he said.
"They might not miss it for a day or two."
"They have the smoke of our fire to go by, too."
"They're careless. We might get a good start."
"Dearest, even if we had many days' start, they know we must make for the Settlement. How easy it would be to head us off!"
"But it might succeed," was all she could say.
"It's seventy-five miles," he said sadly. "You're not strong yet. How could you walk it, without food to support you on the way?"
"You have your gun," she said faintly.
"There's no hunting on the open prairie for a man on foot!"
Natalie dropped her head back on his shoulder; and said no more.