And, suiting the action to the word, he turned off in the opposite direction, and led the way through the woods at a rate which made Archie wonder. They ran along in "Indian file"—Brave bringing up the rear—for almost two miles, through the thickest part of the woods, when they again found themselves on the ridge. After ascertaining that the fox had not yet passed, they took their stations.
"I would really like to know which way that fox went," said Archie, panting hard after his long run.
"I am almost certain that he took to the other ridge," answered Frank. "I think we should have heard the hound before this time, if he had turned this way."
They remained in their places of concealment for almost an hour, without hearing any sounds of the chase, and Frank said,
"We might as well start for home."
"Dished again, are we?" said Archie, in a deprecating tone. "That's too bad! Well," he continued, "we can't always be the fortunate ones, but I wish I could have had the pleasure of shooting that fox. But which way do we go to get home?"
"We must go exactly south," said Frank.
"Which way is that?"
"I will soon tell you."
And Frank drew a small compass from his pocket, and, in a moment, continued,