But they had only muskets and the bullets did not reach.

Ned and Obed, having rested a full ten minutes, ran fast.

They were now descending the far side of the hill and meant to cross a slight valley that lay between it and the mountain.

When they were near the center of this valley they heard the hoofs of horsemen, and again saw lancers galloping toward them.

These horsemen had gone around the hill, and now the hunt was in full cry again.
Ned and Obed would have been lost had not the valley been intersected a little further on by an arroyo seven or eight feet deep and at least fifteen feet wide.