Thad saw to it that a complete understanding was arranged with the three who were to remain in camp, being Davy Jones, Bob White and Smithy.
And then the others, having each made up a few rations of food to carry them over possibly a couple of days, prepared to start upon the plain trail of Bumpus, which had been easily found.
A last wave of the hand, a few “good luck go with you’s,” from the boys in the camp, and then the trackers were swallowed up in the big timber.
CHAPTER VI.
FORCED TO THINK FOR HIMSELF.
“What time d’ye suppose it is, Thad?”
Step Hen asked the question. Perhaps he was a little tired himself, for the four scouts had been constantly on the go since early morning, and it was now getting well on into the afternoon.
They had kept on the zigzag trail left by Bumpus. As a rule it had been very easy following, and afforded all of them considerable enjoyment, because Bumpus knew nothing at all concerning the art of hiding a trail, and would have had no object in doing so, even had he been educated along this line.
But there were times when it happened that the formation of the ground interfered to some extent with their making progress, since even Allan and Thad had considerable to learn about reading signs.
“Oh! about four o’clock,” replied Thad, and instead of consulting his little nickel watch when saying this, he cast a quick glance upward to where a glimpse of the sun could be obtained through an opening in the tops of the exceedingly tall trees.
Thus the habit of observation is encouraged in a scout. He learns to depend less upon the devices of civilization, and more on such natural resources as the primitive folks enjoyed.