there is no need for more than one search."

"How!" exclaimed Bladud sternly. "Think you that my poor lad's fate is
not of as much interest to me as that of Gadarn's daughter is to him?"

"Nay, verily, I presume not to gauge the interest of princes and
chiefs," returned Beniah, with an exasperated air. "All I know is, that
if we find the lad, we are full sure to find the lass not far off."

"How? You speak in riddles to-day."

"Ay, and there are like to be more riddles tomorrow, for what the upshot
of it will be is more than I can tell. See you not that, as the two
were lost about the same time, and near the same place, they will
probably be found together?"

"Your wits seem to be shaken to-day, old man," rejoined Bladud, smiling,
"for these two were not lost about the same place or time."

Fortunately for the Hebrew's peace of mind, an officer accosted them at
that moment, and, directing the one to head a band just ready to march,
led the other to the force which was to be commanded by the chief in
person.

In a few minutes the three bands were in motion, the main bodies
marching north, south, and east, while strong parties were sent out from
each to skirmish in all directions.

"Think you we shall find them, Hebrew?" asked the chief, who seemed to
be in a curiously impulsive state of mind.

"I trust we may. It seems to me almost certain."

"I hope so, for your sake as well as my own, old man; for, if we do not,
I will surely cut your head off for bringing me here for nothing."

"Does it not seem unjust to punish a man for doing his best?" asked
Beniah.

"It may seem so to you men of the east, but to the men of the west
justice is not held of much account."

Proceeding round by the Hot Springs, the party led by Gadarn made a
careful inspection of every cavern, defile, glade, and thicket,
returning at evening towards the camp from which they set out, it having
been arranged that they were all to meet there and start again to renew
the search, in a wider circle, on the following morning.

"No success," remarked Gadarn sternly, unbuckling his sword and flinging
it violently on the ground.

"Not yet, but we may have better fortune tomorrow," said Beniah.

"Don't you think the small footprints we saw near the Springs were those
of the boy?"

"They may have been."

"And those that we saw further on, but lost sight of in the rocky
ground--did they not look like those of a girl?"

"They certainly