This achievement appeared
to be effected successfully, and hope beat high in the bosom of
the fugitive.
Rising to his hands and feet, after a moment lost in listening to
the sounds in the glen, in order to ascertain if he had been seen,
the young man next scrambled to the top of the hill, a distance
of only ten yards, in the expectation of getting its brow between
him and his pursuers, and himself so far under cover. Even this
was effected, and he rose to his feet, walking swiftly but steadily
along the summit, in a direction opposite to that in which he had
first fled. The nature of the calls in the glen, however, soon
made him uneasy, and he sprang upon the summit again, in order to
reconnoitre. No sooner did he reach the height than he was seen,
and the chase renewed. As it was better footing on the level
ground, Deerslayer now avoided the side hill, holding his flight
along the ridge; while the Hurons, judging from the general formation
of the land, saw that the ridge would soon melt into the hollow,
and kept to the latter, as the easiest mode of heading the fugitive.
A few, at the same time, turned south, with a view to prevent his
escaping in that direction, while some crossed his trail towards
the water, in order to prevent his retreat by the lake, running
southerly.
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