"I'm going to dismount," said Allen, and did so and led his steed forward along the trail which the rain had made slippery and treacherous.
Watson likewise got down and they now had to wait for another flash of lightning to show them just where they were. As the flash came Allen gave a look ahead.
"Well, I never!" he ejaculated.
"Wot did ye see?" came quickly from the old hunter.
"Slavin has tumbled down and the horse with him."
"Then we've got the rascal sure!"
They plunged forward again. The trail was narrower than ever and the gully, or hollow, was on one side, and a fringe of mountain brush on the other.
Presently they heard something which served to increase their surprise. Slavin was groaning as if in extreme pain.
"The fall hurt him," said Allen, "Look after my horse, will you? I am going ahead."
He hurried on around a slight turn of the trail and through a clump of bushes and trees growing close to the edge of the hollow. As he emerged from the bushes a sight met his gaze that thrilled him to the backbone.