“All right!” he whispered. “He’s got the hosses up here a few rods away, an’ we must go to ’em. Come on.”
Again in silence the little party took up the line of march, and, piloted by Vic, soon arrived at the spot, where, close to the edge of the creek, stood the trapper and the horses.
“Mount,” he whispered, as they came up. “I’ve confiskated a Blackfoot’s animile, an’ as I dunno what sort of a kitten it is, I’ll ride it, an’ let Marion hev mine. Up with ye, little ’un!”
A moment sufficed for them all to mount, and then they started under the guidance of Wild Nat, who rode at once into the creek.
“Where ye goin’—” began Scip.
“Keep still,” ordered the hunter, “ef ye want tew keep yer skulp. Don’t splash the water so.”
All advanced with as much silence as possible. The very horses seemed to use caution, and all went well. Wild Nat followed down the stream for the distance of about four miles, determined to balk their enemies if possible. No alarm was heard behind them to indicate that their absence had been discovered, and they cherished strong hopes of escaping without detection and pursuit.
At the end of four miles the trapper led the way out of the creek, taking the left bank and heading his horse in a north-east direction. Considerable care was taken for some distance to cover the trail, but when a mile from the creek, the party abandoned the precaution as no longer necessary, and increased their hitherto slow pace to a gallop.
The darkness which had thus far been dense began to show signs of lifting. The clouds rolled away and allowed the stars to shine, and the dim light thus afforded enabled the fugitives to see their way. For several miles they continued their pace, and it was only when the cave was a good ten miles behind, that Wild Nat slackened his speed, and broke the silence which had thus far reigned undisturbed, save for his laconic directions given at intervals.
“Thar,” he remarked, letting the reins fall loosely on his horse’s neck, while the others imitated his example, and all subsided into a walk. “Thar, I guess we’re about safe as fur as them Injuns is concerned. I flatter myself that they don’t foller us very easy. Ef we don’t run afoul of another batch on ’em, we’ll stan’ a good chance of gittin’ off.”