He stretched his neck up, sniffed and howled a little, then he dashed away along the bank back again to the place where the men stood, then gave voice, impatiently, and plunging in swam right across.
Johnnie had been missed for a short time, he was now noticed rowing up stream towards them in a cobble which he had seen farther down the river on the other side, and to gain which he had boldly swam over. It had evidently been left there by the kidnappers. But the lad’s keen eyes had detected something else that now gave them all heart, namely the impression of Peggy’s boots on the soft ground by the river, so it was evident she was not dead.
The trail was once more found and now it was evident from all that had occurred, and the still burning fire in the shieling hut, the villains could not be far ahead, and that, indeed, they might expect to come up with them at any moment. Johnnie’s fishing line was formed into a leash or leader, and this was attached to Ralph’s collar to curb his extra speed and impetuosity. Neither the hound nor his owners had much experience of this sort of work, and instead of capturing his man or men, the sagacious animal might proceed to attack on sight.
To keep on the trail, however, was by no means easy work, owing to streams of water which the kidnappers had evidently waded, and which for a time destroyed the scent.
It led northwards almost directly, and there could be no doubt, now, that the object of their ambition was to gain the seashore, and either to conceal themselves in some town, or get picked up by a boat.
By noon, when the sun was at its height, rest became imperative, for the day had become very hot, and the pursuers quite exhausted. So tying the dog to a tree, they lay down under its welcome shade and were soon fast asleep.
When they awoke all of a sudden they found themselves very much refreshed. But Fitzroy suddenly sprang to his feet and whipped out his revolver, for there, not ten yards away under the shadow of another tree, stood two rough-looking men with guns across their arms.
They were keepers, however, and Fitzroy’s mind was much relieved, so was Gourmand’s flask which he had handed to the men. There was only a spoonful or two left for decency sake.
And “och! and och! and she was a good dram, and what could they do for the strangers at all?”
These men were wiser far than they looked, and when Fitzroy told them the story of Peggy’s abduction they offered their services at once, and explained their plans. They were just a dozen miles and a bittock from the seashore on a bee-line, but to the left was a town and to the right another, with a small cluster of fishermen’s huts on a tiny cove close by the sea.