Page:Barbour--Metipoms Hostage.djvu/162

148 that he feared, and against them such a weapon would avail none. As for the wolves, he had little fear of them, knowing them to  be cowards at heart, attacking only when in  force and having no liking for man. He tried desperately to keep his eyes open, but they  would close in spite of his efforts, whereupon  his head would drop and he would pull himself back from the abyss of sleep with a  frightened start. He told himself that, when he had rested but a little longer, he would take the trail and travel southward, so placing  more distance between him and his enemies,  walking until daylight should force him again  into concealment. But even as he thought this, his lids closed again and his chin sank. This time he did not start into wakefulness. After a moment his body slid over sidewise, he gave a long, deep sigh and slept.

When he awoke a saffron light filled the woods and birds were calling high in the  branches. Dawn had come while he slept, and his heart sank as he realized that perhaps his weakness had lost him the reward  of his efforts. It might well be that the English had passed southward already. In the stupor that had held him it would have taken  more than the tread of feet on the trail or the