16.“Had we not better leave our horses，”said Henry，“and make for the hills across the fields on our left？the fence will stop our pursuers.”“That way lies the gallows，”returned the pedler；“these fellows go three feet to our two，and would mind those fences no more than we do these ruts；but it is a short quarter to the turn，and there aretwo roads behind the wood.They may stand to choose until they can take the track，and we shall gain a little upon them there.”“But this miserable horse is blown already，”cried Henry，urging his beast with the end of his bridle，at the same time that Harvey aided his efforts by applying the lash of a heavy riding-whip that he carried；“he will never stand it for half a mile further.”“A quarter will do，a quarter will do，”said the pedler；“a single quarter will save us，if you follow my directions.”
17.Somewhat cheered by the cool and confident manner of his companion，Henry continued silently urging his horse forward.A few moments brought them to the desired turn，and，as they doubled round a point of low under-brush，the fugitives caught a glimpse of their pursuers scattered along the highway.Mason and the sergeant，being better mounted than the rest of the company，were much nearer to their heels than even the pedler thought could be possible.
18.At the foot of the hills，and for some distance up the dark valley that wound among the mountains，a thick underwood of saplings had been suffered to shoot up，when the heavier growth was felled for the sake of fuel.At the sight of this cover，Henry again urged the pedler to dismount，and to plunge into the woods；but his request was promptly refused.The two roads before mentioned met at a very sharp angle，at a short distance from the turn，and both were circuitous，so that but little of either could be seen at a time.The pedler took the one which led to the left，but held it only a moment，for，on reaching a partial opening in the thicket，he darted across the right hand path，and led the way up a steep ascent，which lay directly before them.This maneuver saved them.On reaching the fork，the dragoons followed the track，and passed the spot where the fugitives had crossed to the other road，before they missed the marks of the footsteps.Their loud cries were heard by Henry and the pedler，as their wearied and breathless animals toiled up the hill，ordering their comrades in therear to ride in the right direction.The captain again proposed to leave their horses，and dash into the thicket.
19.“Not yet，not yet，”said Birch，in a low voice；“the road falls from the top of this hill as steep as it rises；first let us gain the top.”While speaking，they reached the desired summit，and both threw themselves from their horses.Henry plunged into the thick underwood，which covered the side of the mountain for some distance above them.Harvey stopped to give each of their beasts a few severe blows of his whip，that drove them headlong down the path on the other side of the eminence，and then followed his example.
20.The pedler entered the thicket with a little caution，and avoided，as much as possible，rustling or breaking the branches in his way.There was but time only to shelter his person from view，when a dragoon led up the ascent，and，on reaching the height，he cried aloud，“I saw one of their horses turning the hill this minute.”“Drive on，spur forward，my lads，”shouted Mason；“give the Englishman quarter，but cut down the pedler，and make an end of him.”
21.Henry felt his companion grip his arm hard，as he listened in a great tremor to this cry，which was followed by the passage of a dozen horsemen，with a vigor and speed that showed too plainly how little security their over-tired steeds could have afforded them.“Now，”said the pedler，rising from his cover to reconnoiter，and standing for a moment in suspense，“all that we gain is clear gain；for as we go up，they go down.Let us be stirring.”“But will they not follow us，and surround this mountain？”said Henry，rising，and imitating the labored but rapid progress of his companion；“remember they have foot as well as horse；and，at any rate，we shall starve in the hills.”
22.“Fear nothing，Captain Wharton，”returned the pedler with confidence；“this is not the mountain that I would be on，but necessity has made me a dexterous pilot among these hills.I will lead you whereno man will dare to follow.See，the sun is already setting behind the tops of the western mountains，and it will be two hours to the rising of the moon.Who，think you，will follow us far，on a November night，among these rocks and precipices？”“But listen ！”exclaimed Henry；“the dragoons are shouting to each other；they miss us already.”“Come to the point of this rock，and you may see them，”said Harvey，composedly setting himself down to rest.“Nay，they can see us；notice，they are pointing up with their fingers.There！one has fired his pistol，but the distance is too great for even a musket to carry upward.”“They will pursue us，”cried the impatient Henry；“let us be moving.”
23.“They will not think of such a thing，”returned the pedler，picking the chickerberries that grew on the thin soil where he sat，and very deliberately chewing them leaves and all，to refresh his mouth.“What progress could they make here，in their boots and spurs，with their long swords，or even pistols？No，no；they may go back and turn out the foot；but the horse pass through these defiles，when they can keep the saddle，with fear and trembling.Come，follow me，Captain Wharton；we have a troublesome march before us，but I will bring you where none will think of venturing this night.”So saying，they both arose，and were soon hid from view among the rocks and caverns of the mountain.
（FROM COOPER ）
中文阅读
詹姆斯·费尼莫尔·库帕，美国著名作家，生于1789年。他的作品以对印第安人性格的刻画和对海军场景的描述而引人瞩目。
下面的节选源自于作品《间谍》，书中的哈维·贝赫是一个为华盛顿工作的间谍。沃顿上尉是一个囚犯，贝赫正在试图营救他，他指派了一个叫凯撒的黑人乔装打扮代替沃顿去坐牢。