Remember they
won't shoot."
He flung aside the hide door. The two boys flashed out and round the
corner of the hut before the tired eyes and brains of the soldiers had
time to grasp the happening. A moment later they were in hot pursuit,
firing in the air, shouting terrific threats. But the rested and agile
legs of the boys had a good start, and plunged into narrow ways where
horses could not follow; and doubling, twisting, following paths but
recently beaten by Anastacio in pursuit of deer, Roldan and Adan were
soon far beyond the reach or ken of the men of war. It was an hour,
however, before they thought it wise to arrest their flight and pause to
recuperate in a redwood tree hollowed by fire. Two weeks of exposure and
unwonted exertions had hardened Adan's superfluous flesh, and he was
scarcely more spent than his clean-limbed friend, although every step
had been taken with protest.
"Caramba!" he said, in a hoarse whisper at length. "When I am back on
the rancho I won't walk for a year."
"You will have the habit by that time, my friend, and will walk in your
sleep. When I am governor you will be generalissimo of all the forces
and will keep your army as lively as an ant-hill.
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