Let us be stirring."
"But will they not follow us, and surround this mountain?" said Henry,
rising, and imitating the labored but rapid progress of his companion.
"Remember, they have foot as well as horse, and, at any rate, we shall
starve in the hills."
"Fear nothing, Captain Wharton," returned the peddler, with confidence;
"this is not the mountain that I would be on, but necessity has made me
a dexterous pilot among these hills. I will lead you where no man will
dare to follow. See, the sun is already setting behind the tops of the
western mountains, and it will be two hours to the rising of the moon.
Who, think you, will follow us far, on a November night, among these
rocks and precipices?"
"Listen!" exclaimed Henry; "the dragoons are shouting to each other;
they miss us already."
"Come to the point of this rock, and you may see them," said Harvey,
composedly setting himself down to rest. "Nay, they can see us--observe,
they are pointing up with their fingers. There! one has fired his
pistol, but the distance is too great even for a musket."
"They will pursue us," cried the impatient Henry, "let us be moving."
"They will not think of such a thing," returned the peddler, picking the
checkerberries that grew on the thin soil where he sat, and very
deliberately chewing them, leaves and all, to refresh his mouth.
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