CHAPTER XI.
STILL IN PURSUIT.
"It seems the devil himself is helping them imps!" remarked Haldige as they landed.
"But I trust Heaven is aiding us," added Haverland.
"Heaven will if we help ourselves, and now as I'm in this scrape I'm bound to see the end. Look for trail."
"It's poor work I'm thinking we'll make, groping in this moonlight," said Graham.
"While there's life there's hope. Scatter 'long the bank, and search every foot of land. I'll run up stream a ways as I've an idea they landed not far off."
The hunter disappeared with these words, and Graham and Haverland, commenced their work in an opposite direction. The branches overhanging the water were carefully lifted up, and the muddy shore examined; the suspicions bending or parting of the undergrowth was followed by the minutest scrutiny, and although the heavy darkness was against them, yet it would have required a most guarded trail to have escaped their vision. But their efforts were useless; no trail was detected; and convinced that the savages must have landed upon the opposite side, they turned to retrace their steps. As they did so, a low whistle from the hunter reached their ears.
"What does that mean?" asked Graham.
"He has discovered something. Let us hasten."
"What is it, Haldidge?" asked Haverland as they reached the hunter.
"Here's their tracks as sure as I'm a sinner, and it's my private opine they ain't fur off neither."
"Shall we wait until daylight before we undertake to follow it?"
"I am much afraid we shall have to, as there may be signs which we might miss in this darkness. Day can't be far off,"
"Several hours yet."
