Explore "On Time" by Oliver Optic on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
As nearly as I could judge in our place of concealment, the big fellow, who was the leading spirit of the conspirators, had been careful to keep the inside line of retreat from the tar-kettle to the boat. Of course, he expected us to retire in that direction; but when we distanced him in the chase he had moved directly to the water-side, while I had swept around in a much larger circle. As soon as he lost sight of us in the thick undergrowth, which had only been cut away on a few acres composing the picnic-grounds, he had made the shortest line for the boats.
"Where is your boat, Wolf? " asked Waddie, who was actually trembling with apprehension, though I could not blame him for being alarmed, since the villains were still on his track, and still intent upon subjecting him to the degrading ordeal.