But then as he glanced downward at the tracks of the spotted mustang, Campbell saw that they turned abruptly to the right, running close to the underbrush, instead of heading for the baranca. For a moment the young hunter was disconcerted.
CHAPTER VII.
ON GUARD.
Ned Campbell sat his horse with an air of irresolution. For a moment he appeared at a loss what course to pursue.
He glanced quickly around him. The black column of smoke had disappeared. Evidently Zeb Ruel had regained the other party.
Ned was in a quandary whether to hasten to join them, to search for Fannie, or to follow up the faint clue that lay before him, which might lead to the discovery of his lost friend and almost brother, Fred Hawksley. With an effort he decided.
“It is what Fannie would wish, did she know it,” he muttered, as he shook the reins free. “There are better eyes than mine at work over yonder, and I could do no particular good. She would tell me to hunt for poor Fred.”
Campbell was following the trail of the spotted mustang, bending low in his saddle, for the ground was rapidly becoming more hard as he advanced, and the small hoofs had not cut deeply into the turf. Though keen-eyed, the young hunter soon found that he must dismount, or run the risk of losing the trail altogether.
Like a well-trained dog, the big bay horse followed him at a little distance. Step by step Ned picked up the trail, that gradually grew fainter and more indistinct.
Its course led along nearly equidistant from the motte and the baranca, yet heading so that, if maintained, the baranca would be headed. Yet Ned knew that this could not have been done, in the short time that he was hidden from view. He knew that the trail either entered the wood or else the baranca.
If the former, he must find it; if the latter, a few minutes’ delay would matter little, as the rider could not possibly leave it without his knowledge, for both ends were within his range of vision. Reasoning thus, Campbell kept on for over half a mile, more than once losing the trail, only to find it again the next moment.