stened them--for
having tied them to a branch of the _asiminier_, whose soft succulent
wood possesses scarcely the toughness of an ordinary herbaceous plant.
I was rather pleased at the discovery that the animals had freed
themselves. There was a hope they had not strayed far. We might yet
find them near at hand, with trailing bridles, cropping the grass.

Without loss of time we went in search of them--D'Hauteville took one
direction, I another, while Aurore remained in the thicket of the
pawpaws.

I ranged around the neighbourhood, went back to the fence, followed it
to the road, and even went some distance along the road. I searched
every nook among the trees, pushed through thickets and cane-brakes,
and, whenever it flashed, examined the ground for tracks. At intervals
I returned to the point of starting, to find that D'Hauteville had been
equally unsuccessful.

After nearly an hour spent in this fruitless search, I resolved to give
it up. I had no longer a hope of finding the horses; and, with
despairing step, I turned once more in the direction of the thicket.
D'Hauteville had arrived before me.

As I approached, the quivering gleam enabled me to distinguish his
figure. He was standing beside Aurore. He was conversing familiarly
with her. I fancied he was _polite_ to her, and that she seemed
pleased. There was something in this slight scene that made a painful
impression upon me.

Neither had he found any traces of the missing steeds. It was no use
looking any longer for them; and we agreed to discontinue the search,
and pass the night in the woods.

It was with a heavy heart that I consented to this; but we had no
alternative. Afoot we could not possibly reach New Orleans before
morning; and to have been found on the road after daybreak would have
insured our capture. Such as we could not pass without observation; and
I had no doubt that, at the earliest hour, a pursuing party would take
the road to the city.

Our most prudent plan was to remain all night where we were, and renew
our search for the horses as soon as it became day. If we should
succeed in finding them, we might conceal them in the swamp till the
following night, and then make for the city. If we should not recover
them, then, by starting at an earlier hour, we might attempt the journey
on foot.

The loss of the horses had placed us in an unexpected dilemma. It had
seriously diminished our chances of escape, and increased