Let us fly in another direction: the forest is open before us." "And how long does thee think it will keep open?
Friend, I tell thee, thee is surrounded by Injuns.

On the south, they lie at the Ford; on the west, is the river rolling along in a flood; and at the east, are the roads full of Shawnees on the scout.

Verily, friend, there is but little comfort to think of proceeding in any direction, even to the north, where there are five murdering creatures full before us.

But this is my thought, and, I rather think, it is Peter's: if we go to the north, we know pretty much all the evil that lies before us, and how to avoid it; whereas, by turning in either of the other quarters, we go into danger blindfold." "And how shall we avoid these five villains before us ?" asked Roland, anxiously.
"By keeping them before us," replied Nathan; "that is, friend, by following _them_, until such time as they turn where thee turned before them, (and, I warrant me, the evil creatures will turn wheresoever thee trail does); when we, if we have good luck, may slip quietly forward, and leave them, to follow us, after first taking the full swing of all thee roundabout vagaries." "Take your own course," said Roland; "it may be the best.

We can, at the worst, but stumble upon these five; and then (granting that you can, in the meanwhile, bear the females off), I will answer for keeping two or three of the villains busy.