Page:Hugh Pendexter--The young timber-cruisers.djvu/361

 the ground and with incredible quickness and quietness wormed his way some distance towards his camp. Then half rising he took advantage of a dense growth, skirting it so as to place a barrier between him and Big Nick. It was some minutes before the half-breed realized the cruiser had changed his tactics and was trying to break away. Even then he hesitated to follow, fearing some subterfuge of the white man.

By the time he had circled the woods and had decided upon the general direction taken by Abner the latter was speeding like the wind for camp. As he neared it, he slowed his pace from habitual caution and for several seconds studied the back trail. Even if the half-breed should appear now he believed he could decoy him away from the camp, providing the youths in no way revealed their presence. But the half-breed was some distance back in the forest and finally Abner stole ahead.

As he reached the beginning of the clearing where the camp was pitched he thought he heard voices. Suspicious of all he did not quickly understand, he resumed his former secrecy of movements and stole forward as stealthily as if reconnoitering the camp on the river.