not ride upon the track--you
may baffle him--leave him to himself."

In a few seconds the hound stopped, uttered a short howl, and appeared
to toss a dark object upon the grass with his snout. Basil and Lucien
had halted at a considerable distance, but they could see that the
object was some loose feathers.

"The spot, beyond doubt, where Francois has killed the turkey," muttered
Basil. "If Marengo can only catch the trail by which he rode off all
may be well; but--that--that--see! he is off again!"

Now was the time that Basil and Lucien watched with beating hearts.
They knew that a crisis was at hand. If Marengo, as Basil said, could
find Francois' departing trail, then he could follow it up almost to a
certainty. Of this both the brothers were confident, as they knew the
capabilities of the dog. But that was the point to be decided; and both
felt for the moment as if the life of their brother hung upon its
decision. No wonder, then, that they watched every manoeuvre of the
hound with breathless anxiety while they sat, motionless and silent, in
their saddles.

The hound after a while ran off from the feathers; and was seen once
more to double and circle over the ground. He did not go freely. He
was evidently baffled by so many trails approaching and crossing each
other. Again he came back to the spot where the turkey had been killed,
and there paused with a howl of disappointment!

Basil and his brother uttered a simultaneous exclamation, that betokened
painful feelings. They knew that the howl was a bad sign; but neither
spoke.

Once more the dog ran off, and as before turned and wheeled about upon
the prairie.

"O God!" exclaimed Basil, in agony, "he is coming on the old track!"

It was too true; for the next moment the hound, running on the
back-track, bounded in among the feet of their horses. Here he stopped
suddenly, throwing up his head, and uttering another howl of
disappointment.

Basil waved him back. He struck out again and followed the old trail,
but with like success. He then became confused, and ran every way over
the ground, evidently baffled. The brothers regarded each other with
looks of dismay. _The trail was lost_!

"Hold! There is hope yet," said Basil. "We may find it by making a
wider circuit. Take my bridle," continued he, throwing himself from his
horse. "Marengo!--up, Marengo!"

The dog obeyed the call, uttered in accents of command; and came running
up to the