Andi woke in the morning to a fine drizzle. She groaned and felt her clothes. They were soaked from the morning dew.

 
She glanced over at Cory. He seemed to be worse. In fact, when Andi felt his forehead it was burning hot.

 
With a sigh Andi started breakfast. As the food sizzled in the pan she rubbed her eyes and wished that she had received more sleep.

 
When she was finished cooking she said, "Cory, wake up. Breakfast is ready."

 
He groaned and rolled over.

 
"How do you feel?" Andi queried.

 
"Awful."

 
"Well come over and eat and we will get on our way."

 
Cory dragged himself to the fire and ate lethargically. Andi looked at him in concern.

 
"Are you sure you want to go on today?"

 
He nodded his head, "We have to. But, why did you wake me up now? It is still dark and it will be at least a few hours before daylight."

 
"Well you are so sick that we need to find help quickly."

 
"I guess you are right."

 
Andi sighed and returned to her breakfast.

 
After breakfast they bridled the horses and started their ride. Andi winced as she heard Cory's hacking cough.

 
She set her jaw and urged Taffy into a trot. She was determined that they would find someone today. She could tell that Cory couldn't take much more before he would just collapse.

 
As the horses trotted briskly along Andi looked carefully for smoke rising among the trees, but in vain.

 
She heard a chilling howl of a wolf that was followed by several others. She gulped and wished that the sound had been further away.

 
It was repeated, again too close for comfort. Taffy started to prance and snort uneasily, as did Cory's horse.

 
As the howling drew closer and closer, Andi spotted bright, yellow eyes in the bushes and shrieked in fright. She urged the horses into a gallop. Needing no further encouragement, they flew along the ground like the wind.

 
As if the wolves knew that their prey was trying to escape, they pursued the horses.

 
Loud, frightened whinnies and deep-throated snarls filled the morning air. Andi let the horses choose their own route which involved jumping over hedges, dodging around trees, and soaring over little creeks, all of which made it difficult to remain seated on Taffy.

 
As she struggled to remain on Taffy's back, Andi glanced back at Cory and realized that he had fainted. She hoped that the rope holding him to the horse's back would be able to keep him on.

 
Andi reached into her pocket for her handkerchief and her fingers met something cold. She pulled it out to discover: Cory's pocketknife. 

 
She pulled out the longest blade and took a deep breath. She turned in the saddle and threw the knife into the pack of wolves.

 
Her efforts were rewarded by a yelp. The snarling increased as the demented creatures attacked the wounded wolf.

 
Andi grimaced in disgust.

 
The horses continued their breakneck pace until the wolves finally decided to go find easier victims. After they left, the horses started to slow down.

 
Andi pulled the exhausted horses to a halt and dismounted. She hurried over to Cory and tried to revive him.

 
His eyes opened slightly and he groaned.

 
"Wh-where are the wolves?" he muttered.

 
"They are gone. We need to go farther though in case they come back." With that she remounted and they cantered off.

 
As they sped through the woods Andi breathed in the air deeply, enjoying the ride. They entered a small clearing and suddenly Taffy whinnied and reared, throwing Andi off.

 
Andi looked up and froze in fear. Above her two Indians stood with rifles trained on her, fingers on the triggers!

[Read Chapter 6]