"Keep that gun ready for business, Maurice," admonished the other, who flourished his stick in a belligerent way while bringing up the rear.
"Don't you fear about that, my friend. If anybody jumps out at us
I'm ready to give him a warm reception!"
Maurice spoke aloud. It was his hope that if the man might be lingering near he would overhear the words, and take warning accordingly.
They hurried along the dimly defined road. It must have been quite some time since vehicles used this, for the marks of wheels were in many places utterly obliterated by the rains of summer and fall.
Three times they really got off the trail; but fortunately their united vigilance told them of the fact before it was too late to remedy it easily.
"Must be getting near George's place," grunted Thad, at last, for he was almost out of breath, what with their haste, and the necessity for keeping that head of his at all angles, so as to forestall any treachery on the part of the enemy, whom he felt sure must be dodging their trail all this time, waiting for a chance to get in a telling blow.
"I'm afraid not. Seems to me Mr. Stallings said it was nearly a mile past the swamp; and you see we've just got to the worst of that."
"All right, then; keep hoofing it, pard. We've just made up our minds that we're going to see George at home, and nothing ain't going to stop us. Get that?" declared Thad.
"Just what I say. Come on again, if you've caught your wind."
Again they pushed on.