"No, dearest Sebastian; but what shall we do?"
"Let us follow them at once."
"We can not take the path, for I tried to do so twice, and each time was forced to turn back."
"Why so?"
"The Comanches are watching for us there!"
CHAPTER IX.
A GLEAM OF HOPE.
"If that is the case," said the Texan, "we must take a roundabout way to get out of here. The Indians seem to be getting plentier every minute."
"You must be careful about making any noise, for you know what keen ears they have."
"Never fear about me," replied the Texan; "keep close and walk quietly as I do."
They began stealing around the edge of the clearing in search of another path very rarely traveled, and which, it was reasonable to suppose, was unknown to the Indians. They had taken scarcely a dozen steps, however, when the young man heard a rustling footstep just in front of him, and instantly stopped.