He pushed on.

His left arm had to be favored, as he could scarcely move it.

Using his right to spread the willows, he slipped sideways between them and made fast time.

There were narrow aisles and washes and holes low down and paths brushed by animals, all of which he took advantage of, running, walking, crawling, stooping any way to get along.

To keep in a straight line was not easy--he did it by marking some bright sunlit stem or tree ahead, and when he reached it looked straight on to mark another.