I struck the earth within a yard of the nearest one.

They flanked me as I ran, and chased me into two different trees out of the line of my pursuit of the Swift One.

I ventured the ground again, doubled back, and crossed a wide open space, with the whole band grunting, bristling, and tusk-gnashing at my heels.
If I had tripped or stumbled in that open space, there would have been no chance for me.

But I didn't.

And I didn't care whether I did or not.
I was in such mood that I would have faced old Saber-Tooth himself, or a score of arrow-shooting Fire People.