But now I think I did a brave thing, though more by instinct than resolution.
Archie was running first, and had already splashed through the burn; Tam came next, just about to cross, and the black man was almost at his elbow.

Another second and Tam would have been in his clutches had I not yelled out a warning and made straight up the bank of the burn.
Tam fell into the pool--I could hear his spluttering cry--but he got across; for I heard Archie call to him, and the two vanished into the thicket which clothes all the left bank of the gully.

The pursuer, seeing me on his own side of the water, followed straight on; and before I knew it had become a race between the two of us.
I was hideously frightened, but not without hope, for the screes and shelves of this right side of the gully were known to me from many a day's exploring.

I was light on my feet and uncommonly sound in wind, being by far the best long-distance runner in Kirkcaple.

If I could only keep my lead till I reached a certain corner I knew of, I could outwit my enemy; for it was possible from that place to make a detour behind a waterfall and get into a secret path of ours among the bushes.
I flew up the steep screes, not daring to look round; but at the top, where the rocks begin, I had a glimpse of my pursuer.