Freckles was trimming his corners as closely as he dared, but if the Angel did not really intend to hit, she was taking risks in a scandalous manner.

When the men reached the trail, Freckles yelled at the top of his voice:  “Head them off on the south, boys!  Fire from the south!”

As he had hoped, Jack and Wessner instantly plunged into the swale.  A spattering of lead followed them.  They crossed the swale, running low, with not even one backward glance, and entered the woods beyond the corduroy.

Then the little party gathered at the tree.

“I’d better fix this saw so they can’t be using it if they come back,” said Freckles, taking out his hatchet and making saw-teeth fly.

“Now we must leave here without being seen,” said the Bird Woman to the Angel.  “It won’t do for me to make enemies of these men, for I am likely to meet them while at work any day.”

“You can do it by driving straight north on this road,” said Freckles.  “I will go ahead and cut the wires for you.  The swale is almost dry.  You will only be sinking a little.  In a few rods you will strike a cornfield.  I will take down the fence and let you into that.  Follow the furrows and drive straight across it until you come to the other side.  Be following the fence south until you come to a road through the woods east of it.  Then take that road and follow east until you reach the pike.  You will come out on your way back to town, and two miles north of anywhere they are likely to be.  Don’t for your lives ever let it out that you did this,” he earnestly cautioned, “for it’s black enemies you would be making.”

Freckles clipped the wires and they drove through.  The Angel leaned from the carriage and held out his revolver.  Freckles looked at her in surprise.  Her eyes were black, while her face was a deeper rose than usual.  He felt that his own was white.

“Did I shoot high enough?” she asked sweetly.  “I really forgot about lying down.”

Freckles winced.  Did the child know how close she had gone?  Surely she could not!  Or was it possible that she had the nerve and skill to fire like that purposely?

“I will send the first reliable man I meet for McLean,” said the Bird Woman, gathering up the lines.  “If I don’t meet one when we reach town, we will send a messenger.  If it wasn’t for having the gang see me, I would go myself; but I will promise you that you will have help in a little over two hours.  You keep well hidden.  They must think some of the gang is with you now.  There isn’t a chance that they will be back, but don’t run any risks.  Remain under cover.  If they should come, it probably would be for their saw.”  She laughed as at a fine joke.

CHAPTER VII

Wherein Freckles Wins Honor and Finds a Footprint on the Trail

Round-eyed, Freckles watched the Bird Woman and the Angel drive away.  After they were from sight and he was safely hidden among the branches of a small tree, he remembered that he neither had thanked them nor said good-bye.  Considering what they had been through, they never would come again.  His heart sank until he had palpitation in his wading-boots.