"Jest so, Ed; but see. The longer you wait the wusser it'll be. An' it'll keep a-spreadin', natur'ly, up this a-way. Ef you start now, you stand a chaince o' gittin' through. Ef you wait ontil to-morrer—providin' Dusky Dick don't put in his oar, afore—it'll be wuss, a heap. Dog-on it! You must start to-night!" earnestly added Castor.
"But Fred—he is not here, and we can't leave him."
"No more shall you. My plan's this. Say we gits out o' here, an' a'terwards Dusky Dick gives the cabin a call, an' finds us gone. Won't he natur'ly s'pose you've struck out fer the settlements? An' won't he look fer us in thet direction? In course he will. So much fer so much, then.
"We'll take the hosses an' start in thet d'rection fust. Fer it's more'n likely they'll hunt fer our trail by torchlight, ontil they set the p'int we head torst. Then they'll set off to run us down. So we must go fur enough on critter-back to fool 'em, thet way. Then we'll turn 'round an' strike back in a crooked route, torst the Stevens shanty, find Fred, tell our yarn, an' take the hull caboodle with us.
"We kin take a turn ag'in, an' then by hard ridin', make up fer lost time. Ef we're ahead o' those imps by day, then we're all right fer them. We must take the chances 'bout t'others. But I think we kin work it. Thar—thet's my plan; what d' you think o' it, anyhow?" demanded Castor, arising from the table.
The party were silent. They could see no other way, and yet this one seemed full of danger. But indeed, if the rising of the Indians in insurrection was a fact, which way could they turn without incurring danger?
So this plan was finally acquiesced to, and the work of preparation for flight commenced. Castor and Wilson set about saddling the horses, while the women packed food and extra clothing, with such little articles of value that they could not bring themselves to abandon, in small and compact bundles.
They worked as if for dear life, and but a few minutes were consumed ere all was pronounced ready for a start. Castor had taken a hurried scout along the route they proposed to follow, and discovered nothing suspicious.
There were only four horses, but Tobe scornfully declared that he would none of them; that he never yet met the four-footed animal that he could not wear out, on foot. But he advised them to take the extra one along for Fred's use.
Then after a few words of caution, he led the way from the clearing, and they entered the gloomy forest, leaving the home that had sheltered them for two years, with sensations of choking regret. It seemed like parting with some near and dear friend.