The prairie was not quite level, but was what is called a rolling prairie, and this limited the view. Otherwise it would have been easy for a person, whose sight was keen, to have distinguished an object as large as a horse at a distance of many miles.
"Are you sure we are on the right track, Mr. Scott?" asked Tom.
"Yes, I can see by the trail."
"I can see no hoof-marks."
"Not just here; but look closely, and you will see slight marks of disturbance in the grass. As long as these signs last we need have no doubts as to our being on the right track."
"The same trail will lead us back to our party," said Tom.
"Yes, I shouldn't like to part from them in this country. It would be rather a bad place to be lost without provisions."
They had ridden about five miles, when the trail became clearer and better defined. In fact, the marks in the prairie grass appeared more numerous than a single horse would be likely to make.
Scott looked grave.
"We will halt here a moment, Tom," he said. "I want to examine the trail."