As if confirming his words, the far, faint note came from their right, and
then, in reply, from their left. Henry stopped so quickly that Paul almost
ran into him.

"I was afraid it would be that way," he said. "They're certainly all
around us except in front, and maybe there, too."

Visions of the torture rose before Paul again.

"What are we to do?" he said.

"We must hide."

"Hide I Why, they could find us in the forest, as I would find a man in an
open field."

"I don't mean hide here," said Henry; "the river is just ahead, and I
think that if we reach it in time we can find a place. Come, Paul, we must
run as we never ran before."

The two boys sped with long, swift bounds through the forest as only those
who run for their lives can run. Now the voices of the pursuit became
frequent, and began to multiply. Henry, with his instinctive skill in the
forest, read their meaning. The pursuers were sure of triumph. But Henry
shut his lips tightly, and resolved that he and Paul should yet elude
them.

"The river is not more than a half mile ahead," he said. "Come, Paul,
faster! A little faster, if you can!"