lor Bill and Jasper were "out of the hunt" in the literal sense of
the phrase.

"I tell you what, boys," said Mr Rawlings when they had reached the
timber they had made for, "we must separate, and each of us try his luck
on his own account. I'm sure we're never likely to come across anything
as long as we are all in a body together like this."

The remark was made just at the right time, for they were in the
likeliest spot to harbour deer they had yet tracked over; and if there
was any occasion for their exercising caution and skill it was now.

The timber--mostly pine-trees and cottonwood, with low brush growing
about their trunks, forming a copse--was on both sides of a small river,
which seemed easily fordable, with bright green grass extending from the
adjacent prairie down to the water's edge.

"Right you air, boss," said Seth, wading into the streamlet without any
more ado as he spoke; "my motter's allers to go forrud, so I reckon I'll
take tother side of this air stream ahead, an' you ken settle yerselves
on this."

"A very good arrangement," said Mr Rawlings, not at all displeased at
Seth's putting the river between them.

He and Ernest Wilton might possibly have a chance now of getting near a
deer for a shot, which they could not have hoped to do as long as Seth
remained along with them.

"But pray take care of the boy," he continued, as he saw Sailor Bill
follow in Seth's footsteps and wade into the stream, which came up
beyond his knees; "the river may be deeper than you think."

"Never fear," sang out the ex-mate lustily in response. "Thaar ain't
water enough to float a cockboat; and I'm lookin' out keerful and
feelin' my way afore I plant a fut, you bet."

"All right," answered Mr Rawlings.

And his feelings were soon afterwards relieved by seeing Seth and his
protege reach the other side in safety.

A moment later, and they had ascended the opposite river-bank and were
lest to sight, their movements being hidden from view by the clustering
branches of the young pine-trees and spreading foliage of the brushwood
and rank river grass, although their whereabouts was plainly betrayed
for some time later by the tramp of Seth's heavy footstep and the
crunching noise he made as he trod on the rotten twigs and dead wood
that came across his path, the sound growing fainter and fainter in the
distance, and finally dying away.

"Now," said Mr Rawlings to Ernest Wilton, who, with Jasper and the dog
Wol