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Carrie Penney looked a little drawn, a little pale, but there was no time now to think of that. Nor was I worried about Yance. By now Yance would be moving south to join us.
    I led off swiftly, moving like a ghost through the close-standing trees and thick brush. Behind me, Diana was astonished by the way I found openings in thebrush where there seemed to be none and how I automatically chose those routes calculated to leave the fewest tracks.
    During our frequent pauses she studied Kin Sackett, for this was the man who suddenly had all their lives in the hollow of his palm, up to a point. Diana looked upon him with some skepticism despite the confidence she felt, for she was not one to trust easily. She had liked Yance when she first met him, and her sympathies had been completely with Temperance when she fled the community with him. This new Sackett was taller, quieter, and an altogether more thoughtful man, one, she suspected, of cooler judgment. Despite that, she was wary. Diana Macklin was not one to give herself completely into the hands of anyone.
    At the same time she knew her danger and, moreover, the danger the Sacketts entailed by helping. If captured, they would be killed. She and Carrie would be enslaved, but the Sacketts would be killed, and they had nothing to gain.
    They started on and had been going but a short distance when Carrie stumbled and fell. She got up, frightened. “Di! Don’t leave me!”
    â€œWe won’t leave you,” I said. “Here, let me give you a lift.” I swung her to my back. “Put your legs around my waist and hang to my shoulders.”
    I started off again, walking as if unburdened, and they followed.
    Yance was hanging back, bringing up the rear, keeping his eyes open for trouble. I did not look around, knowing he would be there; if there was trouble, Yance would give me a signal.
    We were deeper into the forest now. All about us were huge old maples and clusters of oaks, some of them seven or eight feet in diameter. Here there was less undergrowth, and we could move with greater speed. I was almost running now, weaving a swift way through the forest.
    She watched me constantly, and well I knew her reasons, for he is naught but a fool who trusts himselftoo lightly to a stranger. Now the land was changing; there were more low, rolling hills, and suddenly we topped out on a rise and caught a glimpse of blue beyond.
    The river? No. The look of the water was not right. A lake, then, or large pond. We came down to the shore among the willows, and I let Carrie slide from my back. She was not heavy, yet even with my strength the carrying of her was tiring.
    Yance came in. “Had a glimpse back there. They gained on us.”
    Carrie looked up at me. “Can’t we go home now? Is it far?”
    â€œNot far, Carrie,” I said, resting a hand on her shoulder, “but we cannot go there now. There are men close upon us. They are between us and your village.”
    Yance disappeared in the woods, scouting a way. I lay down, resting, letting all my muscles relax completely and giving way to complete rest. It was something I had learned to do to conserve strength. Through the willows I could see the water, hear it lapping.
    Resting, I was. Yet thinking as well. From the glimpse I had, the lake was a large one, and we had to go back to the east and then south.
    Diana came up beside me and sank to the ground nearby. “We are due east of the Cape, I think?” she suggested.
    â€œWe are.”
    â€œWe cannot go east?”
    â€œThere are men coming toward us. Evil men, I think.” I paused. “Do you know Max Bauer?”
    â€œWhat of him?”
    â€œHe is one of them, I think.”
    She was silent for several minutes. “He is Joseph Pittingel’s man.”
    â€œWho has a ship that is overdue.”
    â€œMaybe he is coming to help?” she suggested. “He was often in Carrie’s home. She knows him.”
    I