few
steps away.

"I am quite sure we are."

"He may steal back tonight, if we camp near."

"Why should he? He does not want to harm Linna, but to use her as a
means of safety against her own people."

"That was what he said, but I don't believe him. It seems to me we ought
to change our course, to be certain of not meeting him again."

"As you think best."

"We have had a good rest. Come, girls, we must be off." Taking the lead
as before, Ben strode down the incline, bearing more to the left than he
had been doing.

All smiled at Linna, for she noticed the change on the instant.

"You go wrong," she said; "dat not right way."

"Which is the right way, Miss Smartness?"

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 pass 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 appetites, 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 p