They've seen Frank come down the tree! Drop flat for your lives!" Again his tone was so compelling that the other two threw themselves flat instantly, and Dick went down with them.

They were barely in time.
A dozen rifles flashed from the thickets beyond the stream, but all the bullets passed over their heads.
"Now we run for it!" exclaimed Dick, once more in that tone of compelling command.

All three rose instantly, though not forgetting their fish and their fishing rods, and ran at their utmost speed for fifty or sixty yards, when at Dick's order they threw themselves flat again.

Three or four more shots were fired from the thickets, but they did not come near their targets.
"Thank God for that little river in between us!" said Pennington, piously and sincerely.

"Rivers certainly have their uses!" Then they heard a sharp, shrill note blown upon a whistle.
"That's Slade recalling his men," said Dick.