“Now we’re to run as we’ve never run before,” exclaimed Willet.  “But we must let ’em think they’re going to catch us.”

First, sending back a tremendous shout of defiance that he knew would enrage Tandakora’s men to the utmost, he raced with long swift steps through the forest, and Robert was always close on his heels.  The yells of the Indians behind them, who pushed forward in pursuit, were succeeded by silence, and Robert knew they now were running for their lives.  Luckily, they were coming into a country with which the hunter had some acquaintance, and, turning a little to the south, he led the way into a ravine down which they took a swift course.  After a mile or so he stopped, and the two rested their lungs and muscles.

“They can’t see our trail to-night,” said the hunter, “and they’ll have to depend on eye and ear, but they’ll stick to the chase for a long time.  I’ve no doubt they think all three of us are here, and that they may take us in one haul.  Ready to start on again, Robert?”

“My breath is all right now, and I’ll run a race with anybody.  You don’t think they’ve lost us, do you?”

“Not likely, but in case they have I’ll tell ’em where we are.”

He uttered a shout so piercing that it made Robert jump.  Then he led again at a great pace down the ravine, and a single cry behind them showed that the pursuit was coming.  As nearly as Robert could calculate, the warriors were about three hundred yards away.  He could not see them, but he was sure they would hang on as long as the slightest chance was left to overtake Willet and himself.

They fled in silence at least another mile, and then, feeling their breath grow difficult again, they stopped a second time, still in the ravine and among thick bushes.

“Our flight may be a joke on them, as we intend to draw them after us,” said Robert, “but constant running turns it into a joke on us too.  I’ve done so much of this sort of thing in the last few days that I feel as if I were spending my life, dodging here and there in the forest, trying to escape warriors.”

Willet laughed dryly.

“It’s not the sort of life for a growing youth,” he said, “but you’ll have to live it for a while.  Remember our task.  If they lose our trail it’s our business to make ’em find it again.  Here’s another challenge to ’em.”

He shouted once more, a long, defiant war cry, much like that of the warriors themselves, and then he and Robert resumed their flight, leaving the ravine presently, and taking a sharper course toward the south.

“I think we’d have lost ’em back there if it hadn’t been for that whoop of mine,” said Willet.

“Perhaps it’s about time to lose them,” said Robert hopefully.  “The sooner we do it the happier I’ll feel.”

“Not yet, Robert, my lad.  We must give Tayoga all the time he needs for the work he’s trying to do.  After all, his task is the main one, and the most dangerous.  I think we can slow up a bit here.  We have to save our breath.”