Mrs. Ripley dared not answer the question as her heart prompted.
At the same time, she could think of no means of throwing them off
their track.

"It might have been better had we stayed with Zitner and Burwink
--no, it would not have been," she corrected herself, "for they
were unfriendly to Linna. But we must go."

The only hope that presented itself was that they might travel
so far during the darkness that the Indians would not keep up the
pursuit when the trail was revealed to them.

The moon did not rise until very late, and there being no path,
while all were in total ignorance of the neighborhood, it will
be understood that they had set to work to do a very hard, if not
impossible thing.

Ben as usual took the lead, and, before he had gone twenty steps,
was caught under the chin by a protruding limb that almost lifted
him off his feet. Then he went headlong into a hollow and bruised
himself against some stones. Still, he did not give up, and by and
by the ground became more level and his mishaps less frequent.

Alice and Linna, like little heroines, never murmured. All persevered
until it was agreed that they were at least two miles from the camp
fire.

In making this hard journey, every one of the party met with several
narrow escapes, and it was agreed that it was best to go no further
until daylight.