t having seen them.

"I think we should wait a little longer," he observed. "The young
Indian may have thought it prudent to go to a considerable distance on
account of the wolves. He may have slept until the morning, or may have
stopped to catch and cook some food."

"I will have another look round," said Hector. "A few ducks won't come
amiss, if I can kill them on the way, either to us or our dogs, before
we finally make a start;" and, calling the two dogs, he set off, they
willingly accompanying him.

While Hector was away from the camp Loraine thoughtfully employed
himself in examining their baggage, and in selecting such articles of
food and clothing as they could carry on their backs, and in doing them
up in two packs, making the heaviest for himself. He was thus engaged
when he heard a couple of shots, but concluding that Hector had fired at
some ducks, as he proposed, went on with his occupation. As he looked
at their saddle-bags and valises, he regretted having to leave them, but
without horses he saw no possibility of carrying them. Noon was
approaching, Hector had not returned, and he became seriously anxious;
so, taking his gun, he set out to look for him. "If he returns while I
am away, he will, I hope, guess why I have gone, and will remain quietly
here for my return," he said to himself. As he walked along he searched
on every side, but Hector was nowhere to be seen. The dreadful thought
occurred that his young friend might have met with some accident, or
that, should Indians have carried off Greensnake, they might have
entrapped him also. His own position was trying in the extreme; but
being a man of courage, he nerved himself up to encounter whatever might
happen. As he was casting his eyes around, he caught sight of a small,
dark object on the ground. He hastened on. It was a powder-flask. It,
however, was certainly not Hector's. He had no doubt that it belonged
to Greensnake. A short distance beyond he came on a ramrod. The ground
was covered with a rich grass, and there were signs of horses having fed
on it, so that no doubt remained on his mind that it was here Greensnake
had been during the night, and on further examination he discovered
traces of the animals' feet moving to the eastward, but he was unable to
ascertain whether Hector had passed that way. Had he done so, he would
probably have followed up the trail of the horses. Loraine, therefore,
hurried on in the same direct