, taking up the turkey, tied its legs to the
cantle of his saddle. This required all Basil's strength, for the bird
was one of the largest size--a forty-pounder.

As soon as the hunter had made all fast, he leaped back into his saddle,
and commenced riding--Where? Ay, that was the question which he asked
himself before his horse had advanced three lengths of his body--where
was he going? All at once the thought came into his mind that _he was
lost_! Groves of timber were on all sides of him. They were like each
other; or, if they differed, he had not in his wild gallop noted that
difference, and it could not serve to direct him now. He had not the
slightest idea of the point whence he had come, and therefore knew not
in what direction to go. He saw and felt that _he was lost_!

My young reader, you cannot conceive the thoughts that come over one who
is lost upon the prairies. Such a situation has appalled the stoutest
hearts ere now. Strong men have trembled at feeling themselves thus
alone in the wilderness; and well might they, for they knew that the
consequence has often been _death_. The shipwrecked mariner in his open
boat is scarcely worse off than the lost traveller upon the prairie-sea;
and many, under the circumstances, have gone mad! Fancy then the
feelings of the boy Basil.

I have already said, he was a cool and courageous lad. He was so, and
proved it now. He did not lose presence of mind. He reined in his
horse, and surveyed the prairie around him with an intelligent eye. It
was all to no purpose. He saw nothing that would give him a clue to the
spot where he had separated from his brothers. He shouted aloud, but
there was neither echo nor answer. He fired off his rifle, and
listened--thinking Lucien or Francois might reply by a similar signal;
but no such signal gratified his ear. He reloaded, and sat for a while
in his saddle, buried in thought.

"Ha! I have it!" he exclaimed, suddenly raising himself in his
stirrups, "Why was I so stupid? Come, Black Hawk! we are not lost yet!"

Basil had not been all his life a hunter for nothing; and although he
had but little experience upon the prairies, his wood craft now stood
him in stead. The thought which had so suddenly occurred to him was a
good one, the only one that could with certainty save him. He had
resolved to _return upon his own tracks_.

He wheeled his horse; and, with eyes bent upon the ground, rode slowly
along. The t