They set off running as hard as they could through the trees for a hundred yards or more, and then Ephraim stopped to spy out the land.
‘He’s goin’ very slow, Luce,’ he said. ‘I reckon we shall head him off if we kin git thar ’thout bein’ stopped. Now, bub, across the first field fer all ye’re wuth.’
Three wide fields intervened between them and the river, and the risk that they would be seen was very great. They were forced to incur it, though; and, besides, they hoped that their blue uniforms would divert suspicion from them if any one should catch sight of them. However, they crossed the first and second fields in safety, and concealed themselves in a ditch while making a survey of the third. The man was out of sight now, but it was only the conformation of the country which concealed him. As a matter of fact, the boys were nearer the river than he was.
‘Thar’s one thing, though,’ said Ephraim, as they sat in the ditch. ‘Thet belt er wood by the river is bound ter be full er Yankee pickets. We han’t got the countersign. What’s ter be done ef we air stopped?’
‘Let’s go on until we are stopped,’ urged Lucius the bold.
Ephraim shook his head. ‘No,’ he said; ‘that’ll not do. We should on’y be turned back agen.’ He thought deeply for a moment, the blue vein coming out in the middle of his forehead, as it always did when his mind was concentrated. All at once he slapped his hand upon his thigh. ‘By time! I’ve got it!’ he exclaimed, and burst out laughing.
‘What have you thought of?’ asked Lucius eagerly.
The Grizzly made him a rapid communication, the effect of which upon Lucius was to cause him to throw himself flat upon the bank of the ditch and roll about with delight.
‘Come on!’ cried the Grizzly. ‘Now mind ye do ezackly ez I do, and when ye run, keep a sharp eye fer the boat.’
They set off again at a quick pace, until they had cleared the field and entered the broad belt of trees which fringed the water. Here they slowed down, and made a bee-line, so far as they could, for the river. In five minutes or less they heard the splash of the swollen current against the bank, and turning their faces sharply down stream, moved on for two or three minutes more, making all the noise they could.