They hoped to make the mouth of the valley by nightfall, and if the British stuck to the upper trail, they would gain some distance unmolested.
"I hope this little stunt works," said Dick, as they scrambled down the steep mountain side, holding sometimes with their hands and at others slipping and clutching at rocks and bushes.
"Yah, mit all this troubles, it should some goot do yet, for sure," replied Fritz. "I have no more skin my hands on alreatty."
"Go right on and wear out the bones, then," laughed Dick. "You have got to get down some way."
There was a sudden slipping and sliding beside him, and before Dick could save himself, Fritz had grasped him by the heels in a vain effort to maintain his position and they both ended in a cloud of dirt and leaves at the bottom of the descent.
"For why don't you hold on, und not push me to the bottoms?" asked Fritz, digging the dirt out of one eye.
"You crazy Dutchman," said Dick. "I'll have to leave you home until you learn how to stand up after this."
"Such an unreasonable feller," sighed Fritz, resignedly. "Always I should got plamed for dings."
"If you don't get up and brush yourself off," said Dick, "the dust cloud will still be floating around here when that British party catches up."
The mention of the English troops spurred Fritz into action, and he hastily gathered himself together and was ready to go ahead again.
Most of the Indian tribe were already far along the trail, and the boys had to hurry and catch up to them. The day proved a long one for the two Patriots for the sun was hot in the valley, and they were pushed to the utmost to keep up to the Indian leaders. Except for a short halt now and then when they all drank from some nearby rushing brook, they had been on the trail since before dawn. The men were also without any rest since the fight of the day before.
The signal from Telca that they were to make camp was a very welcome one.
"Well, I feel as if we had done a good day's work," said Dick, as they sat on a fallen log and watched the squaws gather wood for the fires.
"Och, Dick Dare, a veek of whole sleep vill not my feet rest yet," replied Fritz.
"See how small and how well concealed those squaws build their fires," said Dick. "Each one behind a tree or rock to keep anyone on that ridge up there from seeing the light."