“Well, come on, then. Let's search all around. We ought to be able to lay him by the heels, for we can hear him if he tries to run away.”
“True. Come, comrade. We'll quickly have the fellow, if he's here.”
Then Dick heard the trampling of feet, which sounded closer and closer, and he realized that he must get away from there at once, or the redcoats would be upon him.
Having so decided, he lost not time, but moved away as cautiously as possible. He went a bit faster than he should have done, to maintain a noiseless movement, however, for he stepped on a fallen branch, which broke with a cracking sound, and the very next step he stumbled over a log, and fell into a brushpile, making considerable noise.
“A spy!” he heard one of the redcoats cry. “There's somebody there, sure!”
“Halt!” cried the other soldier, loudly. “Stop, or I'll fire!”
But Dick, fearing to remain, as he would almost certainly be found and captured, leaped to his feet and took to his heels, running as fast as he dared; to run too fast, would have been to break his head against a tree, more than likely.
The British soldiers heard him, evidently, for one cried, excitedly:
“There he goes! I hear him running!”
“Yes,” cried the other, “but I'll put a stop to his running, or know the reason why. Here goes to wing the rebel.”