agnosis, the rest of us halted and awaited the result of
their scrutiny.

In ten minutes' time both came back to us; they had read the sign to
their satisfaction, and needed no further light.

That sign had disclosed to them one fact of more significance than all
the rest. Of course, we all knew that the Indian horsemen had gone over
the ground before the grass had been burnt; but how long before? We had
no difficulty in making out that it was upon that same day, and since
the rising of the sun--these were trifles easily ascertained; but at
_what hour_ had they passed? Late, or early? With the steed, before,
or after him?

About this point I was most anxious, but I had not the slightest idea
that it could be decided by the "sign."

To my astonishment, those cunning hunters returned to tell me, not only
the very hour at which the steed had passed the spot, but also that the
Indian horsemen had been riding _after him_! Clairvoyance could
scarcely have gone farther.

The old trapper had grown expletive, more than was his wont. It was no
longer a matter of tracking the white steed. Indians were near.
Caution had become necessary, and neither the company nor counsel of the
humblest was to be scorned. We might soon stand in need of the
strength, even of the weakest in our party.

Freely, then, the trackers communicated their discoveries, in answer to
my interrogation.

"The white hoss," said Rube, "must 'a been hyur 'bout four hour ago--
kalkerlatin the rate at which he wur a gwine, an kalkerlatin how fur he
hed ter kum. He hain't 'a stopped nowhur; an 'ceptin i' the thicket, he
hez gallipt the rest o' the way--thet's clur. Wal, we knows the
distance, thurfor we knows the time--thet's clur too; an four hour's
'bout the mark, I reck'n--preehaps a leetle less, an alser preehaps a
leetle more. Now, furrermore to the peint. Them niggurs hez been
eyther clost arter 'im, in view o' the critter, or follerin 'im on the
trail--the one or the t'other--an which 'taint possyble to tell wi' this
hyur sign no-how-cum-somever. But thet they _wur arter_ 'im, me an
Bill's made out clur as mud--thet we sartintly hez."

"How have you ascertained that they were after?"

"The tracks, young fellur--the tracks."

"But how by them?"

"Easy as eatin' hump-rib: them as wur made by the white hoss ur
_un'ermost_."

The conclusion was clear indeed. The Indians must have been _after_
him.

We stayed no longer upon the spot,