Page:Hugh Pendexter--The young timber-cruisers.djvu/277

 from a regiment of Big Nicks. Besides, he knows we are loaded and he won’t be as bold again.”

The third day was taken more leisurely. With Stanley able to handle a pole the previous day’s record could have been surpassed with ease; but Abner was content to advance slowly, ever keeping a close watch of the banks ahead.

“What I fear to see is a thread of smoke,” he explained to his young companions. “If they should let up their pace we’d come in sight of their campfire. That would mean we’d have to hide the canoe and make a circle around ’em, which would be hard work and would cost us time. If we can reach the foot of Flat-top Ridge without running into ’em I’ll be tickled to death. For that’s where we begin work.”

“Flat-top, eh?” pondered Bub. “That’s a new country to me.”

“As it is to me. I had orders to say nothing till we was about there. As we should see it when we turn the next bend I feel at liberty to speak.”

In a short time the bend was reached and three pair of eyes were anxiously focused ahead.