ppers, or the tread of their
returning footsteps. No such sounds could be heard.

I was becoming impatient, when I perceived a sudden waif of light far
out upon the plain. It seemed to be again extinguished; but in the same
place, and the moment after, appeared a small, steady flame, twinkling
like a solitary star through the bluish mist of the rain. For a few
seconds it remained fixed, and then commenced moving--as if carried low
down along the surface of the ground.

There was nothing mysterious about this lone light. To Quackenboss only
it remained an unexplained apparition; and he might have mistaken it for
the _fata morgana_. The others had been awake when Rube and Garey took
their departure, and easily recognised the lighted candle in the hands
of the trappers.

For some time the light appeared to move backwards and forwards, turning
at short distances, as if borne in irregular circles, or in zig-zag
lines. We could perceive the sheen of water between us and the flame--
as though there was a pond, or perhaps a portion of the prairie, flooded
by the rain.

After a while the light became fixed, and a sharp exclamation was heard
across the plain, which all of us recognised as being in the voice of
the trapper Rube.

Again the light was in motion--now flitting along more rapidly, and as
if carried in a straight line over the prairie.

We followed it with eager eyes. We saw it was moving further and
further away; and my companions hazarded the conjecture that the
trappers had recovered the trail.

This was soon verified by one of themselves--Garey--whose huge form,
looming through the mist, was seen approaching the spot; and though the
expression of his face could not be noted in the darkness, his bearing
betokened that he brought cheerful tidings.

"Rube's struck the trail, capt'n," said he in a quiet voice as he came
up: "yonder he goes, whar you see the bleeze o' the cannel! He'll soon
be out o' sight, if we don't make haste, an follow."

Without another word, we seized the reins, sprang once more into our
saddles, and rode off after the twinkling star, that beaconed us across
the plain.

Rube was soon overtaken; and we perceived that despite the storm, he was
rapidly progressing along the trail, his candle sheltered from the rain
under the ample sombrero.

In answer to numerous queries, the old trapper vouchsafed only an
occasional "Wagh!" evidently proud of this new exhibition of his skill.