He fell headlong, but was up instantly.
It took a few moments to tighten the strap, and it must have been then that the wolves caught the scent, and after hurriedly finishing the meal in hand, galloped off for another without taking the slightest notice of the fox skin that Reddy had tossed to them.

Tom made a fresh start, feeling more confident on his feet than he had at first, and he was well under way when he heard the howl of the wolves behind him.

Gathering all his energies together he managed to keep ahead of them until the woods became less dense, and he saw through the interlacing branches the open meadows and fields.
"They are too hungry to leave off now," he said to himself as he hurriedly searched the valley below for the nearest farmhouse.

In front of him was a very high, steep hill, that same hill, in fact, where Nora's coasting party had taken place.

Glancing behind him, he caught a glimpse of the gray brothers trotting through the forest.
"I'll take the hill," he thought.