His only course was to follow it till he found means of crossing it.
Following the direction of the creek he kept near the margin of the wood till he came to a public road.

He had some doubts about trusting himself out of the forest, even for a single moment; so he seated himself upon a rock to argue the point.

If any one should happen to come along, he was almost sure of furnishing a clew to his future movements, if not of being immediately captured.
This was a very strong argument, but there was a stronger one upon the other side.

He had eaten nothing since dinner on the preceding day, and he began to feel faint for the want of food.

On the other side of the creek he saw a pasture which looked as though it might afford him a few berries; and he was on the point of taking to the road, when he heard the rumbling of a wagon in the distance.
His heart beat with apprehension.