made a tolerably wide
circuit, examining every spot which could conceal a foe, when we again
met.

"Not the shadow of an enemy," observed Tim. "It's my belief that the
Redskins have taken themselves off as far as they can get from the
whites, and won't be eager to meet any of us."

It was quite dark by the time we got back to the camp; but neither
Carlos nor the men who had accompanied him on foot had made their
appearance. We waited for some time, until we began to grow anxious.
At last footsteps were heard, and two men were seen coming towards the
camp. They proved to be those who had accompanied Carlos and Black
Hawk. They reported that they had got separated in a wood from the
young master and the Indian, and that although they had searched about
everywhere, they could not find them or discover their trail.

This announcement caused considerable anxiety. Captain Norton blamed
the men for their carelessness; but they declared that Carlos himself
had told them the course they were to take, and that they had followed
no other. We waited for some time, hoping that my young cousin would,
guided by the fire, find his way to camp. The Indian would, at all
events, be able to lead him right. But what if, after all, Black Hawk
had proved treacherous? I was thankful when Captain Norton, after
waiting for another hour, decided to send out three or four men. Tim
and I begged that we might go; and Lejoillie offered to accompany us.
As our horses were tolerably fresh, we should get over more ground than
the men on foot, so we at once set out in the direction Carlos had
taken. The moon, we knew, would shortly rise and enable us to see our
way. We knew that in the immediate neighbourhood of the camp there was
but little risk of our falling in with an enemy; but it was possible,
should we continue on to any distance from it, that we might find
ourselves unexpectedly in the presence of a band of Redskins. Lejoillie
at last proposed that we should return, observing that Carlos could not
intentionally have gone as far, and that if he had met with any
accident, we should find him nearer the camp.

Just after he had said this, I noticed, near the edge of a wood, a
light, as if from a small fire. I pointed it out to Lejoillie and Tim.
We at all events were bound to examine it, and at once rode forward. As
we drew nearer, we could hear the howling and yelping of wolves.
Presently the moon rose beyond the far-extending pr