a considerable distance.
Whether or not the Indians had discovered him, I could not tell; but
they must have seen me, for as I rose to my feet, about to mount,
leaving their camp-fire, they came rushing forward. I sprang on to my
horse's back, and pressing my knees into his side, patted him on the
neck. "Now, Jack," I cried, "show what you're made of. Don't let those
fellows catch us."

The horse, knowing my voice, obeying as if he had understood what I
said, galloped forward. I looked ahead, but could nowhere see Dio. I
believed that my animal would follow the course of the other horse. I
was very certain that in a few moments I should have the whole pack of
Indians at my heels. If I could lead them on one side or the other, I
might give Dio a better chance of escaping. Brave Boxer kept close to
me. I stooped to avoid the boughs under which my horse carried me. He
seemed as eager to get away from the Indians as I was. I could hear
them shouting and shrieking as they ran to catch their horses. Several
arrows whistled over my head, or fell beside me, but they were afraid of
shooting low, for fear of wounding their own horses, which were between
me and them. In another minute, however, I was out of their sight among
the trees. Although it was night, there was sufficient light, I feared,
to enable them to discover my trail. Not that I thought much about that
at the time, or anything else but the idea of escaping. My horse made
too much noise as he galloped over the crisp ground, to allow me to hear
whether they had yet mounted, and the only sounds from behind me which
reached my ears were their shouts. Presently, however, these ceased,
and I then knew that they were pursuing either Dio or me. I had had,
however, a fair start. My hope rose high that I should be able to keep
ahead of my pursuers. It was important, however, to get out of the wood
as soon as possible, or they would, by going faster over the ground,
make their way round, and be ready to meet me as I emerged from it. A
narrow glade opened out before me, leading in the direction I wished to
take; it was formed either by deer or buffalo, who, from constantly
following the same tracks, are the chief road-makers of the primeval
forests. I dashed along it; fortunately neither fallen trunks nor
stumps impeding my progress. As may be supposed, I looked out eagerly
for Dio, and I thought it very possible that I might fall in with him,
but no sign