As soon as they were alone, the two men with whom the Babbler had just made this hideous and strange bargain, retreated silently among the underwood, through which they crawled like serpents.
They soon reached the banks of a little rivulet which ran, unperceived and unknown, through the forest. Kennedy whistled in a certain fashion twice.
A slight noise was heard, and a horseman, holding two horses in hand, appeared at a few paces from the spot where they had stopped.
"Come on, Frank," said Kennedy, "you may approach without fear."
The horsemen immediately advanced.
"What is there new?" Kennedy asked.
"Nothing very important," the horseman replied.
"I have discovered an Indian trail."
"Ah! ah!" said the captain, "numerous?"
"Rather so."