we entered the forest my forebodings became painfully oppressive. I
imparted them to Clayley. My friend had been occupied with similar
thoughts.

"It is just possible," said he, "that nobody has found the way. By
heavens!" he added, with an earnestness unusual in his manner, "I have
been far more uneasy about the other side--those half-brigands and that
villain Dubrosc."

"On! on!" I ejaculated, digging the spurs into the flanks of my horse,
who sprang forward at a gallop.

I could say no more. Clayley had given utterance to my very thoughts,
and a painful feeling shot through my heart.

My companions dashed after me, and we pressed through the trees at a
reckless pace.

We entered an opening. Raoul, who was then riding in the advance,
suddenly checked his horse, waving on us to halt. We did so.

"What is it, Raoul?" I asked in a whisper.

"Something entered the thicket, Captain."

"At what point?"

"There, to the left;" and the Frenchman pointed in this direction. "I
did not see it well; it might have been a stray animal."

"I seed it, Cap'n," said Lincoln, closing up; "it wur a mustang."

"Mounted, think you?"

"I ain't confident; I only seed its hips. We were a-gwine too fast to
get a good sight on the critter; but it wur a mustang--I seed that cl'ar
as daylight."

I sat for a moment, hesitating.

"I kin tell yer whether it wur mounted, Cap'n," continued the hunter,
"if yer'll let me slide down and take a squint at the critter's tracks."

"It is out of our way. Perhaps you had better," I added, after a little
reflection. "Raoul, you and Chane dismount and go with the sergeant.
Hold their horses, Jack."

"If yer'll not object, Cap'n," said Lincoln, addressing me in a whisper,
"I'd rayther go 'ithout kump'ny. Thar ain't two men I'd like, in a
tight fix, better'n Rowl and Chane; but I hev done a smart chance o'
trackin' in my time, an' I allers gets along better when I'm by myself."

"Very well, Sergeant; as you wish it, go alone. We shall wait for you."

The hunter dismounted, and having carefully examined his rifle, strode
off in a direction nearly opposite to that where the object had been
seen.

I was about to call after him, impatient to continue our journey; but,
reflecting a moment, I concluded it was better to leave him to his
"instincts". In five minutes he had disappeared, having entered the
chaparral.

We sat in our saddles for half an hour, not without feelings of
i