Part 11 (1/2)

She pointed it out.

”You are right, but that is the course of that bad man, who doesn't like you. We will go around, so as not to see him again.”

She was satisfied, and gave her attention to Alice, who thought it odd that she and Ben should have so many disputes.

Over the varying surface, turning aside now and then to pa.s.s some obstacle in the shape of rocks or ravines--now up hill and down, among the dense trees, where the briars and bushes scratched their hands and faces, across small rippling streams and natural clearings--they pushed on until the sun was far beyond meridian and the halt and rest were grateful.

”I don't think we need give any more thought to Zitner,” said Ben; ”and I am sure we are all glad. He could not find us now, if he tried.”

”If they kept to their course, we must be several miles apart.”

”I have been working my way back, so that, after all, I do not think we have lost much ground. I hope Miss Linna is satisfied.”

”She would make complaint if she was not.”

They had stopped near another of the small running streams, for it was harder to do without water than food.

”I'm hungry, mother.”

”So we all are,” she added, producing half a loaf, which was the last of their food.

”To leave any portion of this will only aggravate all your appet.i.tes, so we will finish it.”

The bread was divided among the four, and when eating ceased not a crumb was left.

”It isn't a good time of the year for hunting, mother, but if I can get sight of any game, I'll bring it down, whether it is a deer, bear, wild turkey, quail, or anything that will serve for a meal.”

”It isn't a time to be particular--in watching for danger look also for game.”

”That's what I have been doing for the last few hours.”

With the pa.s.sage of time and the increase of the distance between them and Wyoming the hopes of the little party naturally rose. They were now a good many miles from their old home, and as yet had not seen a single red man. That numbers were abroad there could be no doubt, although it is a fact that a great many people did not start eastward until several days after the battle.

But it was a long, long way to the Delaware, with the travelling such as they had to face. I have spoken of the forest as being trackless and a wrong impression may have been given. An old trail led from the Susquehanna to the Delaware, and was followed by many of the fugitives; but great risk was run by those who did so, for most of the pursuers used the same path. As a consequence, some were overtaken and slain.

Those who avoided the beaten route of necessity suffered greater hards.h.i.+ps; but none was equal to that of meeting their enemies. Omas took care to steer wide of this trail when leading the party into the wild section to the east of the river, and he showed them that he wished them to do the same. Ben was too wise to forget his wishes.

The location of the sun in the sky, the appearance of the bark and moss, and the tops of certain trees, enabled the young woodman to keep a pretty true course. He remarked, with a laugh, that if there was any likelihood of going wrong, Linna would correct him.

The afternoon was well past before they came upon any more water, and, with the warm weather and their long tramp, all suffered from thirst.

They were not traversing a desert country, however, and soon found what they wanted in abundance.

”But,” said Ben, ”I am worried about food, mother. It is nearly night, and we haven't a mouthful. I suppose if there was plenty, I wouldn't feel half as bad, but it seems to me I was never so hungry in all my life.”

”That is natural; but, if necessary, we can go all night without food.”

”If necessary, of course we can, but I dread it. Alice and Linna will suffer, though I'm not so sure about Linna. I would give almost anything for a wild turkey.”

The dusky child looked up from where she was sitting on the ground, playing with Alice.