The others were not disposed to disregard this advice, and in a moment they were all on dry land.
“This way,” said the trapper, starting off through the woods. “Step karful, Rocky.”
The horse seemed to understand and made but little noise. After going at a trot for a short distance, the trapper struck into a gallop, in which he was imitated by the others. Ten minutes’ sharp riding brought them to the little rocky gorge, leading to a small rock-inclosed dell, where the horses were generally kept.
“Step lively,” said the trapper, as he dismounted; “’twon’t be long till the reds will find they’re fooled, an’ then they’ll be arter us.”
“Well,” said Kent, “why didn’t they follow us? What prevented them from seeing we went up-stream?”
“Sandy bottom. Don’t rile much an’ settles so quick they couldn’t see we’d been thar,” replied the trapper. “They naterly s’posed we’d gone down, as thet war away from ’em. Wagh! Old Nat’s good for ’em yit. Now, let’s git for the cave!”
With great caution and the utmost silence, the fugitives hurried through the forest, and in due time found themselves at the cave. Vic and Marion were beginning to wonder at their long absence, and were agreeably surprised at their sudden appearance. In reply to their questions, Wild Nat related the incidents of the race, adding:
“I reckon they’ll feel ruther cantankerus about losin’ us so slick, but I don’t feel pertikularly sorry for ’em. Ef it hadn’t been thet thar war quite so many of ’em, we’d ’a’ stood an’ had a scrimmage. I’d like tew have deprived ’em of their sculp-lock. He he! I tell ye, Vic, it war fun tew see thet darkey! His teeth chattered so, when we war in the woods, they follered us by the sound! It’s a fackt! I war ser’usly ’larmed for fear we should have tew chew his buffler-hump for him. Reckoned his teeth would all shake out.”
“Oh, g’way now!” said Scip. “It’s no such t’ing, Vic; he’s foolin’, he is! Warn’t I ’way behind, takin’ it cool, when ye fellers war runnin’ like mad? Jes’ ans’er dat, will ye.”
“Yes, ye war takin’ it cool! Ye war so scart ye almost fell off yer mule! Gallinippers! Ye ought tew heard him holler ’G’long!’ Wagh! Wagh!”