Then a darker thought entered his mind, and brought a gleam of terrible anxiety to his face. Supposing they should make an attempt upon his life?
CHAPTER XX.
BRICK’S DEFENCE.
First of all, Raikes followed Sparwick’s trail to where it entered the woods. He plunged a few yards into the heavy undergrowth and timber. Then he retraced the entire distance backward, leaving a plain imprint with every step. Brick’s heart sank. He thought he knew what this proceeding meant.
The two men next removed their snowshoes, and made Brick do likewise. They put the three pairs under the luggage on the sled, and drew the straps as tight as possible. Raikes hoisted the heavy sled to his right shoulder. Then the start was made, in the following order: Raikes first, Brick in the middle, and Bogle bringing up the rear, whence he could watch every movement of the prisoner. The three followed the ledge of rocks to its very end, and stepped off into the swift, open channel of the brook. The water was shallow, but fearfully cold. It quickly penetrated Brick’s boots and made him shiver. Raikes and Bogle did not seem to mind it. The latter turned and looked back.
“Well done,” he muttered. “That would almost throw a bloodhound off the trail.”
“There’s better luck in store for us,” replied Raikes. “We’ll have snow before morning.”
“I believe it,” assented Bogle, glancing up at the murky sky. “Go ahead. Don’t you plant your feet anywhere but in the water, youngster.”