He could not see them, but he was sure they would hang on as long as the slightest chance was left to overtake Willet and himself.
They fled in silence at least another mile, and then, feeling their breath grow difficult again, they stopped a second time, still in the ravine and among thick bushes.
"Our flight may be a joke on them, as we intend to draw them after us," said Robert, "but constant running turns it into a joke on us too.

I've done so much of this sort of thing in the last few days that I feel as if I were spending my life, dodging here and there in the forest, trying to escape warriors." Willet laughed dryly.
"It's not the sort of life for a growing youth," he said, "but you'll have to live it for a while.

Remember our task.

If they lose our trail it's our business to make 'em find it again.

Here's another challenge to 'em." He shouted once more, a long, defiant war cry, much like that of the warriors themselves, and then he and Robert resumed their flight, leaving the ravine presently, and taking a sharper course toward the south.
"I think we'd have lost 'em back there if it hadn't been for that whoop of mine," said Willet.
"Perhaps it's about time to lose them," said Robert hopefully.