“At sundown. They’re not half-way to Strong’s now. We’ll let ’em go, though, Silver Hand; but we could intercept them if we wanted to. Old Levi needs a lesson for his action.”
“But his girl too putty to be in the woods at night. Bad Wyandots and Night-Hawks come down together from the north, and—”
“There! that’s enough, chief,” interrupted the trapper. “I could let old Levi go; but Huldah, never! Come! we kin catch ’em at the mouth of Eel Creek, for they’ve taken the black-deer trail to Strong’s. It’ll take fast travelin’, Silver Hand; but we kin do it. You an’ me kin do any thing.”
Silver Hand sprung to the task with great eagerness, and wheeling to the left, the twain hurried down the right bank of the creek. A rapid march of several hours brought them to the objective point; and Silver Hand at once dropped upon all-fours to examine the trail.
“Party gone by!” he said at last, looking up at the trapper. “Old settler, young man and four squaws. They walkin’ fast, too—almost run.”
“The—deuce!” exclaimed Wolf-Cap, much chagrined at the result of their journey. “But,” with a faint smile of satisfaction; “I’m glad they passed this point safely. It argues well for their arrival at Strong’s. How long since did they pass, Silver Hand?”
The Wyandot examined the trail again.
“Only little while ago; grass still bent down.”
“Then we stand some chances of catching them this side of Strong’s.”
“Yes, by fast walkin’.”