Page:Hugh Pendexter--The young timber-cruisers.djvu/360

 boys would set out after him, or by some lack of caution advertise their presence. In that event he must adopt a different programme and lead his foe away towards the river. Had he known, as he glided from bush to trunk, from rock to clump of cedar, that already Bub was a prisoner and that Stanley was about to fall into the same clutches it is probable that he could have escaped the half-breed.

But his camp was the magnet that held him hiding about one small circle, ever hoping for an opportunity to fly off at a tangent and rescue his young friends from possible capture. This mode of procedure puzzled the half-breed. It resulted in his overestimating the prowess of his opponent. He feared that Abner might be armed with a revolver, or be planning some coup by which he would win the victory. Because of this error the half-breed did not press matters as he otherwise might have done. Had be known that his white friends had captured Stanley and Bub he would have understood the cruiser’s maneuvers and would have governed himself accordingly.

Thus the two passed back and forth, now seeming to lose an advantage, now believing one was gained. At last the shadows thickened and drawing a deep breath Abner dropped to