The snow and the dead leaves hid the sound of his fall and the others did not notice it.

As he looked up he saw their dim forms disappearing among the bushes.

He rose to his own feet, but uttered a little cry as a ligament in his ankle sent a warning throb of pain through his body.
It was not a wrench, only a bruise, and as he stretched his ankle a few times the soreness went away.

But the last sound made by the retreating footsteps of his comrades had died, and their place had been taken by those of his pursuers, who were now drawing very near.
Dick had no intention of being captured, and, turning off at a right angle, he dropped into a gully which he encountered among some bushes.
The gully was about four feet deep and half full of snow.

Dick threw himself full length on his side, and sank down in the snow until he was nearly covered.