He had gathered fresh strength, and that hot bullet gave a new impetus also. He ran down the slope at a great speed now, and he had calculated craftily. He could descend nearly twice as fast as they could ascend, and while they were reaching the crest he would put a wide gap between them.
He kept well in the shadow now as he made with long leaps straight toward the hollow, and he hoped with every heart beat that Albert, aroused by the shots, would be awake and ready. "Albert!" he cried, when he was within twenty feet of their camp, and his hope was rewarded. Albert was up, rifle in hand, crying:
"What is it, Dick?"
"The Sioux!" exclaimed Dick. "They're not far away! You heard the shots! Come!"
He turned off at an angle and ran in a parallel line along the slope, Albert by his side. He wished to keep to the forests and thickets, knowing they would have little chance of escape on the plain. As they ran he told Albert, in short, choppy sentences, what had happened.
"I don't hear anything," said Albert, after ten minutes. "Maybe they've lost us."
"No such good luck! Those curs of theirs would lead them. No,
Al, we've got to keep straight on as long as we can!"
Albert stumbled on a rock, but, quickly recovering himself, put greater speed in every jump, when he heard the Indian shout behind him.
"We've got to shoot their dogs," said Dick. "We'll have no other chance to shake them off."
"If we get a chance," replied Albert.