At long intervals he would rest for a quarter of an hour or so among the bushes, and at noon he ate a little of the venison that he always carried.

Three hours later he came to the river again, and swimming it he turned on his course, but kept to the southern side.

When the twilight was falling once more he sat still in dense covert for a long time.

He neither saw nor heard a sign of human presence, and he was sure now that the pursuit had failed.

Without an effort he dismissed it from his mind, ate a little more of the venison, and made his bed for the night.
The whole day had been bright, with a light wind blowing, and the forest was dry once more.