Having made up his mind, Dick acted. Leaping to his feet, he dashed away at the top of his speed, and instantly he heard the sound of pursuit and knew that the Indian he had heard slipping up on him had given chase.
On the youth ran, and suddenly a peculiar, quavering cry went up from his pursuer’s lips. It was evidently a signal telling his brother braves that a man from the fort was among them, and for them to try to capture him. Realizing this, Dick was on the alert, and expected every moment to feel himself seized by the hands of the redskins.
He had reached the heavy woods, however, before he became aware of the near presence of any redskins, and then he thought he heard several right in front of him.
Whirling, he ran toward the left, at the top of his speed, and then began such a game of hide and seek as Dick had never engaged in before. His quick ears would tell him when there were Indians in front of him, and he would turn in some other direction, with the result that in going a distance of two or three hundred yards, he must have gone at least a mile.
Two or three times he had felt hands clutching him, but he had managed to tear himself loose, and finally he was enabled to continue his flight straight ahead, not hearing any sounds to indicate the presence of redskins in front of him.
Behind him he heard the sounds of pattering feet, however, and the guttural exclamations of the redskins, and knew he was being pursued. He felt that now that he had succeeded in getting through their lines without being captured he could escape, however, and did not feel very much alarmed.
“So ye think ye’re safe, do ye, hey?”
Dick was an exceedingly swift runner, and it was to this that he owed his success, so far, and to this fact he finally owed his good fortune in getting away from his pursuers, for he gradually drew away from the Indians, and when they had followed him a mile or so, they gave up the pursuit and turned back. Doubtless they decided that it was of more importance to be ready to attack the fort when the time came than to keep on in pursuit of a fugitive that could run like the one they had been after.
And when he was certain that the redskins had ceased pursuing him, Dick slackened his speed to a walk, went onward at a moderate pace, and presently paused and stood listening intently.