At the foot of the hills, and for some distance up the dark valley that
wound among the mountains, a thick underwood of saplings had been
suffered to shoot up, where the heavier growth was felled for the sake
of the fuel. At the sight of this cover, Henry again urged the peddler
to dismount, and to plunge into the woods; but his request was promptly
refused. The two roads, before mentioned, met at very sharp angles at a
short distance from the turn, and both were circuitous, so that but
little of either could be seen at a time. The peddler took the one which
led to the left, but held it only a moment, for, on reaching a partial
opening in the thicket, he darted across into the right-hand path and
led the way up a steep ascent, which lay directly before them. This
maneuver saved them. On reaching the fork, the dragoons followed the
track and passed the spot where the fugitives had crossed to the other
road, before they missed the marks of the footsteps. Their loud cries
were heard by Henry and the peddler, as their wearied and breathless
animals toiled up the hill, ordering their comrades in the rear to ride
in the right direction. The captain again proposed to leave their horses
and dash into the thicket.
"Not yet, not yet," said Birch, in a low voice. "The road falls from the
top of this hill as steep as it rises; first let us gain the top.
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