It seemed it never would end.

They raced us through the trees, the whole tribe of them, and nearly caught us.

We were forced to take to the ground, and here we had the advantage, for they were truly the Tree People, and while they out-climbed us we out-footed them on the ground.

We broke away toward the north, the tribe howling on our track.

Across the open spaces we gained, and in the brush they caught up with us, and more than once it was nip and tuck.