Obedient to the old hunter’s directions, we hurried on after him.
Chapter Eighty One.
An Empty Camp.
We had not gone far before we came within ear-shot of voices, mingled with the hollow thumping of horses’ hoofs.
We recognised the voices as those of our comrades, and hailed them as they came nearer, for we perceived that they were advancing towards us.
They had heard the reports; and, believing them to proceed from our rifles, had fancied we were engaged with the Indians, and were now riding forwards to our aid.
“Hollow, boys!” shouted Hickman, as they drew nearer. “Is Bill Williams and Ned Spence among ye? Speak out, if ye be!”
There was no reply to this interrogatory. It was succeeded by a dead silence of some seconds’ duration. Evidently the two men were not there, else they would have answered for themselves.