p. May not get another chance.
That's why I told 'em we'd like to stay all night, so as to get plenty
fish."

"They'll signal help and trail us. Some of those old men can travel
heap fast."

"So can we. We'll have a head start, and I don't believe there's
anybody in the village who can catch us."

"All right. They can't do any more than beat us if they do catch us.
We'll tell the other fellows."

They sidled along, until they could tell their partners.

"I'll go," Fat Bear's spunky brother agreed at once. "If they try to
catch us we'll fight 'em off with clubs and rocks. Who's afraid of the
old men? We'll make their tongues hang out."

"I'll go, you bet," agreed the fourth, also. "My folks need me. I'm
sick of playing Injun."

"Well, we'll all lie down to sleep; and in the middle of the night I'll
wake you up," proposed Buck Elk.

"Sure?"

"Sure. Now don't let's talk any more."

At dark the camp went to bed. The two old Indians were sound sleepers.
About midnight Buck Elk softly turned; he had not slept a wink. He
nudged the next boy, the next boy nudged the next, and the nudge was
passed on. They softly slipped, one after another, from their
blankets. The two old Indians never stirred. In the star-light the
four hastily grabbed what food they could; and leaving White Eagle and
Singing Bird lying there they tiptoed away, on their silent moccasins,
into the forest.

Fat Bear led. He was a good woodsman. Soon they ran; and they ran and
walked fast until daylight, traveling with their backs to the North
Star. Then the sun guided them, until about noon, when they had to
stop and rest.

"How far, you think?" panted the fourth boy.

"Twenty-five miles, I guess. We'd better cover our trail and hide.
Come on. Follow me," bade crafty Fat Bear.

They stepped on rocks and logs, swung from tree to tree, and dropped
down among bushes. That was an anxious afternoon. One kept watch
while the others slept. They took turns watching and listening. They
heard not a sound of the pursuit. Except for the birds and squirrels
the forest was quiet. Their hearts beat hopefully. But of course
tottering old men on the trail was a different matter from that of
swift, crafty warriors.

In the dusk they started on again, to travel all night. After this
they traveled by night and slept by day. That was the proper way.
They knew how to do, as well as men. They trudged down hill and up,
scrambled throu