“Just that.”
“That tells the story, then, for the other tracks agree. It is growing dark, so let us hurry back and make a camp for the tired men.”
They walked rapidly back down the river bank, joined the two scouts awaiting them, and told the sad story to them that they were too late!
Mounting their horses, they rode back in the gathering twilight for a mile, when they met the other two scouts, who had dropped back on account of their horses.
They had halted just where the scout intended to make the night camp, and, seeing that the place was thoroughly sheltered, they began to build fires.
Just as the fires began to burn well, the command came in sight, and the tired horses gained courage and hastened on.
They were soon all there, the stragglers dropping in one by one, and a sadness fell upon all as they heard the ill-omened words: “Too late!”
Lieutenant Worth listened, with stern face and flashing eyes.
Then he said: