They had emerged from heavy forest into a stretch of canebrake through which ran a long swath, trampled by many feet and cut by deep ruts. Here the cannon had passed perhaps a week ago, and they could follow the ruts as easily as the wheel of an engine follows the rails.
"I 'low they can't make more'n ten or fifteen miles a day," said Silent Tom.
"While we, if we were hard pressed, could go thirty or forty, or more," said Paul.
"We could overtake 'em in three days," said Henry.
"An' hevin' done it," said the shiftless one, "what are we goin' to do next?"
"It's the cannon we're after, as we all know," said Henry, "and I confess that I can't see yet how we're going to get at 'em."
"I fancy we can tell more about it when we approach the Indian army," said Paul.
"There's no other way," said Henry. "If we keep close beside 'em we may get a chance at the cannon, but we've got to look out for Braxton Wyatt and his gang, who will be just behind us, on the same trail."
"Then we go straight ahead?" said Paul.
They followed the great trail nearly all night, under the clear moon and stars, a fine drying wind having taken away all the dampness. As usual Henry led and Silent Tom brought up the rear, the one in front keeping an eye for a rear guard and the one behind watching for the advance of Braxton Wyatt's force. The trail itself was leisurely. The speed of the cannon had to be the speed of the army, and there was ample time for parties to leave on hunting expeditions, and then rejoin the main band with their spoils.