g place
with Hertford. Now that he had the powerful comradeship of Sergeant
Whitley, the wilderness became beautiful instead of gloomy for Dick.
The live oaks and magnolias were magnificent, and there was a wild
luxuriance of vegetation. Birds of brilliant plumage darted among the
foliage, and squirrels chattered on the boughs. He saw bear tracks
again, and called the sergeant's attention to them.

"It would be nice to be hunting them, instead of men," said Whitley.
"You can find nice, black fellows down here, good to eat, and it's a
deal safer to hunt them than it is the grizzlies and silver-tips of the
Rockies."

They saw now much cleared land, mostly cotton fields, and now and then
a white man or a negro working, but there was always enough forest
for cover. They waded the numerous brooks and creeks, allowing their
clothing to dry in the warm sun, as they marched, and about two hours
before sunrise the sergeant, wary and always suspicious, suggested that
they stop a while.

"I've an idea," he said, "that Slade and his men are still following us.
Oh, he's an ugly fellow, full of sin, and if they're not far behind us
we ought to know it."

"Just as you say," said Dick, glad enough to shift the responsibility
upon such capable shoulders. "How would this clump of bushes serve for a
hiding place while we wait?"

"Good enough. Indians pursued, often ambush the pursuer, and as we've
two good men with two good rifles, Mr. Mason, we'll just see what this
Slade is about."

"When I last saw him," said Dick, "he had the two canoemen with him, and
perhaps they've picked up the owner of the hounds."

"That's sure, and they're likely to be four. We're only two, but we've
got the advantage of the ambush, and that's a big one. If you agree
with me, Mr. Mason, we'll wait here for 'em. We were sent out to take
messages, not to fight, but since these fellows hang on our trail we may
get to Colonel Hertford all the quicker because we do fight."

"Your opinion's mine too, Sergeant. I'm not in love with battle, but I
wouldn't mind taking a shot or two at these men. They've given me a lot
of trouble."

The sergeant smiled.

"That's the way it goes," he said. "You don't get mad at anybody in
particular in a big battle, but if two or three fellows lay around in
the woods popping away at you you soon get so you lose any objections to
killing, and you draw a bead on 'em as soon as a chance comes."

"That's the way I feel, Sergean