Page:Hugh Pendexter--The young timber-cruisers.djvu/367

 golden opportunity. His only hope now lay in running the old man down. If he could tire him out he would have him at his mercy. He redoubled his efforts as he noted Abner’s course was ever towards Briar stream. This led him to deduce that Abner was making for a canoe and had hopes of escaping him by water. It might also mean that in the canoe was a rifle; for it must be remembered Big Nick as yet knew nothing of the boys or their camp.

This last theory seemed very plausible to him and he made directly for the stream, intending to follow down its bank and intercept Abner, or overtake him before he could arm himself.

But from that moment Abner, for the night at least, was lost to him. Had he known that the veteran was exhausted from his fearful exertions and need of food he would have rested easier. Not knowing this he prowled along the river, made detours through the silent woods, and in every way sought to locate his victim.

It was just as he was giving up his search and was about to retreat to the camp up stream, his heart filled with bitter rage, that Big Nick again sighted his prey. Abner, lame and sore from his night in the woods, was painfully limping, not down stream, but back