e general
direction which the Rifleman had taken, and intended to follow him in
this manner. Being thoroughly well acquainted with the country, there
was no difficulty in doing this; and, without pausing to think of drink
or food, the two resumed their pursuit as hopefully and confidently as
though the matter were already settled.

To follow up thus persistently one of the most skillful border-men of
the period, with the desire of assisting him in whatever strait he may
have gotten himself, would have been the acme of absurdity upon the
part of those undertaking it, and would have gained for them no thanks
for attempting it, had the circumstances been difficult. But,
incommoded as he was by the charge of Edith, and environed by enemies,
it could hardly be expected that he would come through unscathed. His
enemies, fully aware of the difficulties of his situation, undoubtedly
were using every endeavor to thwart him, it being certain that they
were aware of his identity. To have captured the leader of the Riflemen
of the Miami would have been a feat of which even a war-party would
have been proud, and the Huron well knew they would not give over their
efforts until he was absolutely beyond their reach. This was the reason
why he was so anxious to press forward as far as it would be prudent to
venture during the darkness.

By midnight the two had reached a point above which the Huron believed
the fugitives would not go; and being unable to determine the precise
course which they had taken after this, they concluded to wait until
daylight before going further. Accordingly they lay down on the ground,
both dropping to sleep immediately, and both waking at precisely the
same moment, just as the light of the day was appearing.

A half-hour's search discovered the trail of their friends within
several hundred yards of where they had slept--thus close and exact had
been the calculation of the sagacious Huron. He and O'Hara now began to
entertain hopes that, after all, the fugitives had succeeded in
reaching the settlement. The latter, at the most, was not more than
twenty miles distant; and, had Dernor been allowed the entire night to
travel, he could have safely reached it. A critical examination of his
footprints, however, revealed the fact that they had not been made more
than twenty hours before. If he had reached the settlement, therefore,
he must have done it in the latter part of the preceding day.

The two now presse