"So soon as you have found the trail, Shaw, who knows my hiding places, will be sent off by you to advise me, and he will find me, wherever I may be."
"Yes," the squatter's son said, laconically. Valentine examined him for a moment attentively, and then turned to Bloodson:
"Be it so," he said; "he shall come. I am greatly mistaken, or this young man has a greater interest than we suppose in the success of our plans; and we can trust entirely to him."
Shaw lowered his eyes with a blush.
"And now," Bloodson said, "it is late: we have hardly four hours of night left. I believe that we have come to a perfect understanding, and that we shall do well to sleep. We do not know what the morrow reserves for us."
"Yes, let us sleep," Valentine said, "for I intend starting at sunrise."
"Will your horses be rested?"
"Let them rest, for we do not want them; a trail can only be properly followed on foot."
"You are right; a man on foot can pass anywhere."
After exchanging a few more words, each rose to go and throw himself on a pile of dry leaves.