“I wish I knew what lies before us now,” said Jack.
“I am afraid our prospects are rather dark. We must take care at any rate not to fall again into the hands of the bushrangers. I am most afraid of that man Fletcher. If he could have his way, he would show us no mercy.”
“Let us go on again,” said Jack. “I only stopped to catch my breath.”
“You are right, Jack. The farther we get away from the bushrangers the better.”
Before them was a densely wooded hill. The way had become difficult with the scrub bushes that filled up the distance between the trees.
“We can’t make our way here, Harry,” said Jack despondently.
“Oh yes, we can. Besides, don’t you see, the rougher and more difficult the way, the less are we likely to be followed. I am willing to go through a good deal to escape capture.”
“So am I,” answered Jack. “You are always right. Push ahead, and I’ll follow.”
For three or four hours the boys kept on their way. They surmounted the hill, and found a clearer country. By this time it was growing dark, and the boys were feeling both fatigued and hungry.
“I think we can rest now, Jack,” said Harry.