“Seize upon him—­take him at once—­let him not escape you!” were the hasty orders of the outlaw.  Briggs set forward, but his approach had the effect of giving determination also to Chub; who, just as the pursuer thought himself sure of his captive, and was indeed indirectly upon him, doubled himself up, as it were into a complete ball, and without effort rolled headlong down the hill; gathering upon his feet as he attained the level, seemingly unhurt, and with all the agility of the monkey.

“Shall I shoot, sir?” was the inquiry of Briggs, as the urchin stood off, laughing wildly at his good fortune.

“Now, don’t”—­was the cry—­“Now, don’t”—­was the exclamation of Chub himself, who, however, trusting nothing to the effect of his entreaty, ran vigorously on his way.

“Yes, shoot him down,” was the sudden exclamation of Munro; but Rivers struck the poised weapon upward in the hands of the sentinel, to the astonishment, not less of him than of the landlord.

“No—­let him live, Munro.  Let him live.  Such as he should be spared.  Is he not alone—­without fellowship—­scorned—­an outcast—­without sympathy—­like myself.  Let him live, let him live!”

The word of mercy from his lips utterly confounded his companion.  But, remembering that Rivers was a monster of contradictions, Munro turned away, and gave directions to see after the other prisoners.

A few moments sufficed for this, and the panic was universal among the inmates of the rock.  The secret was now lost, unless immediate pursuit could avail in the recovery of the fugitives.  This pursuit was immediately undertaken, and both Rivers and Munro, taking different directions, and dispersing their whole force about the forest, set off on the search.

Apprehensive of pursuit, the policy of Bunce, to whom Lucy gave up the entire direction of their flight, was determined upon with not a little judgment.  Assured that his pursuers would search chiefly on the direct route between their abode and the village, to which they would necessarily surmise the flight was directed, he boldly determined upon a course, picked sinuously out, obliquing largely from the true direction, which, while it would materially lengthen the distance, would at least secure them, he thought, from the danger of contact with the scouring party.

By no means ignorant of the country, in and about which he had frequently travelled in the pursuit of trade, he contrived, in this way, completely to mislead the pursuers; and the morning found them still some distance from the village, but in a direction affording few chances of interruption in their contemplated approach to it.

Lucy was dreadfully fatigued, and a frequent sense of weariness almost persuaded her to lay down life itself in utter exhaustion:  but the encouraging words of the pedler, and the thought of his peril, for whose safety—­though herself hopeless of all besides—­she would willingly peril all, restored her, and invigorated her to renewed effort.