He knew what it meant--a warning as deadly as swimmer's cramp in deep water.

If he continued much longer he would be crawling on his hands and knees.
Quickly he turned in the direction of the timber.

He had traveled three hours, he thought, since abandoning his cabin to the flames.

Another half hour, with the caution of slower, shorter steps, brought him to the timber.

Luck was with him and he cried aloud to Peter as he felt himself in the darkness of a dense cover of spruce and balsam.