West and south the forest rolled unbroken in a wilderness of snowy tree-tops.

There was no sign of life anywhere, not even a bird, but I knew very well that behind me in the woods were men moving swiftly on my track, and that it was pretty well impossible for me to get away.
There was nothing for it but to go on till I dropped or was taken.

I shaped my course south with a shade of west in it, for the map showed me that in that direction I would soonest strike the Danube.

What I was going to do when I got there I didn't trouble to think.

I had fixed the river as my immediate goal and the future must take care of itself.
I was now certain that I had fever on me.