Page:Hugh Pendexter--The young timber-cruisers.djvu/216

 by ye; else there ain’t no truth in the woods and no good in a woodsman.”

“Lean on my shoulder as much as you can,” invited Bub. “Now let’s put the best foot forward.”

This time Abner made the youths lead the way while he brought up the rear. He knew the danger was behind them and he trusted to Bub to pick a quiet trail now that the morning light was filtering through the trees to help them. And as Bub had said the full galaxy of forest singers now, tuned up and broke into one marvelous harmony in which, unlike the evening festival, naught but love notes were heard.

But even with the dawning light the fugitives’ progress continued slow, Stanley’s ankle acting as a brake on their flight. Each knew that the half-breed was taking two steps to their one and must soon be abreast if not in advance of them. Once he reached high ground and scrutinized the low lands with his keen gaze he could not fail to detect their approach, while to intercept them would be an easy task.

The fatigue of the previous day and night was beginning to tell also on Abner’s hardy frame. The average man of his years would think only of taking his ease and it was a