Hunger had not yet pinched me to the point of going home, and I laid myself down in the leaves to rest; for I had been watching for hunters all day, but not being molested during the day, I expected no disturbance during the night.

I had come to the conclusion that Covey relied upon hunger to drive me home; and in this I was quite correct--the facts showed that he had made no effort to catch me, since morning.
During the night, I heard the step of a man in the woods.

He was coming toward the place where I lay.

A person lying still has the advantage over one walking in the woods, in the day time, and this advantage is much greater at night.

I was not able to engage in a physical struggle, and I had recourse to the common resort of the weak.