Feverishly Barrows examined the trail and followed it out through a rear door of the cabin.
It led into a narrow gulch and up the mountain.
It was quickly lost in the gravelly soil, but Barrows kept on up the mountain.
He now censured himself for not having acted with greater dispatch.
He believed that had he changed his position earlier he would have become aware sooner of the change of base of the abductors.
This was undoubtedly true, but on the other hand there had been the great risk of exposure to a bullet.
On the whole the lover felt that he had reason to be grateful for his success in so promptly striking the trail of the foe.
He kept on up the mountain with increasing hopes.
If he could once more overtake the abductors under more favorable circumstances he believed that he could effect the rescue of Bessie Rodman.
He still kept on up the mountain.