The Twins nearly smothered themselves then, to keep the laughs in.
Hawk-Eye and Limberleg passed on down the path to the very edge of the forest. There they turned and walked along the bluffs, where they could swing themselves into a tree at a moment’s notice. This was safer than walking in the green meadows beside the river where there were no trees to climb.
Firetop and Firefly waited until they were out of sight around the turn. Then they crawled down from the tree, took their spears in their hands, and ran after them. They stayed back far enough so they could hide behind trees if Hawk-Eye or
Limberleg should turn round, yet near enough to keep them in sight.
For miles and miles they walked and ran. It was hard with their short legs to keep the pace set by their father and mother, but they knew very well they had to do it. There was no turning back then.
On and on walked Hawk-Eye and Limberleg. The sun climbed higher and higher. The children were thirsty, but they did not dare to run down to the river for a drink. They were hungry, but they had nothing to eat. They snatched little green leaves from the bushes as they passed, but this was hardly enough to fill their empty stomachs.
“We’ll just have to call them,” said Firefly at last. “I’m so hungry I’ve simply got to have something to eat, and if we stop to hunt for roots, we’ll never catch up with them again.”
“They’ll be as mad as mad bulls when they see us,” said Firetop.
“Yes, of course. We’ll get a good beating,” answered Firefly. “We expected that. But it won’t hurt after it is over; you told me so yourself.”