a few minutes his speed became greater。 A disappointed shout arose behind him； and several shots were fired。 But the bullets fell a hundred yards short； and then； as he passed over a little hill and into a wood beyond； he was hidden from the sight of his pursuers。
Henry knew that the Iroquois could trail him over the snow； but they could not do it at full speed； and he turned sharply off at an angle。 Pausing a second or two for fresh breath； he continued on his new course； although not so fast as before。 He knew that the Iroquois would rush straight ahead； and would not discover for two or three minutes that they were off the trail。 It would take them another two or three minutes to recover； and he would make a gain of at least five minutes。 Five minutes had saved the life of many a man on the border。
How precious those five minutes were！ He would take them all。 He ran forward some distance； stopped where the trees grew thick； and then enjoyed the golden five； minute by minute。 He had felt that he was pumping the very lifeblood from his heart。 His breath had come painfully； and the thongs of the snowshoes were chafing his ankles terribly。 But those minutes were worth a year。 Fresh air poured into his lungs； and the muscles became elastic once more。 In so brief a space be had recreated himself。
Resuming his flight； he went at a steady pace； resolved not to do his utmost unless the enemy came in sight。 About ten minutes later he heard a cry far behind him； and he believed it to be a signal from some Indian to the others that the trail was found again。 But with so much advantage he felt sure that he was now quite safe。 He ran； although at decreased speed； for about two hours more； and then he sat down on the upthrust root of a great oak。 Here he depended most upon his ears。 The forest was so silent that he could hear any noise at a great distance； but there was none。 Trusting to his ears to warn him； he would remain there a long time for a thorough rest。 He even dared to take off his snowshoes that he might rub his sore ankles； but he wrapped his heavy blanket about his body； lest he take deep cold in cooling off in such a temperature after so long a flight。
He sat enjoying a half hour； golden like the five minutes； and then he saw； outlined against the bright； moonlit sky； something that told him he must be on the alert again。 It was a single ring of smoke； like that from a cigar； only far greater。 It rose steadily； untroubled by wind until it was dissipated。 It meant 〃attention！〃 and presently it was followed by a column of such rings； one following another beautifully。 The column said： 〃 The foe is near。〃 Henry read the Indian signs perfectly。 The rings were made by covering a little fire with a blanket for a moment and then allowing the smoke to ascend。 On clear days such signals could be seen a distance of thirty miles or more； and he knew that they were full of significance。
Evidently the Iroquois party had divided into two or more bands。 One had found his trail； and was signaling to the other。 The party sending up the smoke might be a half mile away； but the others； although his trail was yet hidden from them； might be nearer。 It was again time for flight。
He swiftly put on the snowshoes； neglecting no thong or lace； folded the blanket on his back again； and； leaving the friendly root； started once more。 He ran forward at moderate speed for perhaps a mile； when he suddenly heard triumphant yells on both right and left。 A strong party of Iroquois were coming up on either side； and luck had enabled them to catch him in a trap。
They were so near that they fired upon him； and one bullet nicked his glove； but he was hopeful that after his long rest he might again stave them off。 He sent back no defiant cry； but； settling into determined silence； ran at his utmost speed。 The forest here was of large trees； with no undergrowth； and he noticed that the two parties did not join； but kept on as they had come； one on the right and the other on the left。 This fact must have some significance； but he could not fathom it。 Neither could he guess whether the Indians were fresh or tired； but apparently they made no effort to come within range of his rifle。
Presently he made a fresh spurt of speed； the forest opened out； and then both bands uttered a yell full of ferocity and joy； the kind that savages utter only when they see their triumph complete。
Before； and far below Henry； stretched a vast； white expanse。 He had come to the lake； but at a point where the cliff rose high like a mountain； and steep like a wall。 The surface of the lake was so far down that it was misty white like a cloud。 Now he understood the policy of the Indian bands in not uniting。 They knew that they would soon reach the lofty cliffs of the lake； and if he turned to either right or left there was a band ready to seize him。
Henry's heart leaped up and then sank lower than ever before in his life。 It seemed that he could not escape from so complete a trap； and Braxton Wyatt was not one who would spare a prisoner。 That was perhaps the bitterest thing of all； to be taken and tortured by Braxton Wyatt。 He was there。 He could hear his voice in one of the bands； and then the courage that never failed him burst into fire again。
The Iroquois were coming toward him； shutting him out from retreat to either right or left； but not yet closing in because of his deadly rifle。 He gave them a single look； put forth his voice in one great cry of defiance； and； rushing toward the edge of the mighty cliff； sprang boldly over。
As Henry plunged downward he heard behind him a shout of amazement and chagrin poured forth from many Iroquois throats； and； taking a single glance backward； he caught a glimpse of dusky faces stamped with awe。 But the bold youth had not made a leap to destruction。 In the passage of a second he had calculated rapidly and well。 While the cliff at first glance seemed perpendicular； it could not be so。 There was a slope coated with two feet of snow； and swinging far back on the heels of his snowshoes； he shot downward like one taking a tremendous slide on a toboggan。 Faster and faster he went； but deeper and deeper he dug his shoes into the snow； until he lay back almost flat against its surface。 This checked his speed somewhat； but it was still very great； and； preserving his self…control perfectly； he prayed aloud to kindly Providence to save him from some great boulder or abrupt drop。
The snow from his runners flew in a continuous shower behind him as he descended。 Yet he drew himself compactly together； and held his rifle parallel with his body。 Once or twice； as he went over a little ridge； he shot clear of the snow； but he held his body rigid； and the snow beyond saved him from a severe bruise。 Then his speed was increased again； and all the time the white surface of the lake below； seen dimly through the night and his flight； seemed miles away。
He might never reach that surface alive； but of one thing lie was sure。 None of the Iroquois or Tories had dared to follow。 Braxton Wyatt could have no triumph over him。 He was alone in his great flight。 Once a projection caused him to turn a little to one side。 He was in momentary danger of turning entirely； and then of rolling head over heels like a huge snowball； but with a mighty effort he righted himself； and continued the descent on the runners； with the heels plowing into the ice and the snow。
Now that white expanse which had seemed so far away came miles nearer。 Presently he would be there。 The impossible had become possible； the unattainable was about to be attained。 He gave another mighty dig with his shoes； the last reach of the slope passed behind him； and he shot out on the frozen surface of the lake； bruised and breathless； but without a single broken bone。
The lake was covered with ice a foot thick； and over this lay frozen snow； which stopped Henry forty or fifty yards from the cliff。 There he lost his balance at last； and fell on his side； where he lay for a few moments； weak； panting； but triumphant。
When he stood upright again he felt his body； but he had suffered nothing save some bruises； that would heal in their own good time。 His deerskin clothing was much torn； particularly on the back； where he had leaned upon the ice and snow； but the folded blanket had saved him to a considerable extent。 One of his shoes was pulled loose； and presently he discovered that his left ankle was smarting and burning at a great rate。 But he did not mind these things at all； so complete was his sense of victory。 He looked up at the mighty white wall that stretched above him fifteen hundred feet； and he wondered at his own tremendous exploit。 The wall ran away for miles； and the Iroquois could not reach him by any easier path。 He tried to make out figures on the brink looking down at him； but it was too far away； and he saw only a black line。
He tightened the loose shoe and struck out across the lake。 He was far away from 〃The Alcove；〃 and he did not intend to go there； lest the Iroquois； by chance； come upon his trail and follow it to the refuge。 But as it was no more than two miles across the lake at that point； and the Iroquois would have to make a great curve to reach the other side； he felt perfectly safe。 He walked slowly across； conscious all the time of an increasing pain in his left ankle； which must now be badly swollen； and he did not stop until he penetrated some distance among low bills。 Here； under an overhanging cliff with thick bushes in front； he found a partial shelter； which he cleared out yet further。 Then with infinite patience he built a fire with splinters that he cut from dead boughs； hung his blanket in front of it on two sticks that the flame might not be seen； took off his snowshoes； leggins； and socks； and bared his ankles。 Both were swollen； but the left much more badly than the other。 He doubted whether he would be able to walk on the following day； but he rubbed them a long time； both with the palms of his hands and with snow； until they felt better。 Then he replaced his clothing； leaned back against the faithful snowshoes which had saved his life； however much they had hur