"There it is, leading toward the creek. She has gone there to bathe herself."
A few moments sufficed to take them to the spot, where she had spent a half-hour or so, early in the morning, and then they observed the circuitous route back again, which suggested that she had discovered or was seeking to avoid some danger.
There was no difficulty in tracing the footsteps to the point where the Comanche bear had seized and borne her away. The prints on the ground perplexed them for a few minutes.
"They were made by an Indian without a doubt," said the Texan.
"And that Indian," said Crockett, "was the bear that we saw last night on t'other side of the creek."
"That's it! that's it!" fairly gasped young Carsfield; "it's their old tricks over again. He can't be far away anyhow, and we will run him into the ground before he can reach his confederates."
The Tennesseean was satisfied that this was the true course, and the two started forward at once, the trail over the dead and rumpled leaves being such that it was easily followed.
"He is running very fast," added Sebastian, when they had progressed something like a hundred yards upon their way.
"But he can't carry the gal and outrun us besides."
"He'll make her do her own running after awhile."