Jack was for starting off instantly, without waiting for breakfast or anything else; in fact, he gave the order for our horses to be saddled at once.
"No hurry about it," I said to Jack; "let us eat our breakfast, as that will only make a few minutes' difference in our starting, and if we go without it we might become faint and drop down when we most need our strength. Take in a good meal, and then we'll be off."
Harry and Jack admitted the common sense of my suggestion, and sat down to the repast. Both were quite nervous, and I think their appetites were somewhat disturbed. I told our cook to put up a piece of whatever cold meat there was, and some bread—enough to make a good lunch for all of us; and I took, on my own account, a flask of brandy. Then we started, and rode at a good pace—at the same time being careful to preserve our horses—to the camp of the amazons.
When we reached there we found that the manager had followed the spoor of the horses for a mile or more to the southward; there the ground became very hard and broken, and it was no longer possible to track the animals. He returned to the camp and waited our arrival; in fact, he came out half a mile or more to meet us.
During the ride from our camp the three of us had hardly spoken to one another, partly because the opportunities for conversation are very limited in a ride like that, and partly because each was occupied with his own thoughts.
When we met the manager we drew rein and proceeded at a walk, listening to the account of what he had done, and asking him what he suggested. He could not suggest anything except that we should ride toward the south, following the spoor of the horses as far as we could, and then continuing on in the same general direction. I was unable to add anything else, and so were Jack and Harry. We made our plans to ride to the south, and after losing the spoor we were to stretch out and zigzag along the way until we picked up the spoor again.
Just as we reached the camp Jack said:
"I have a suggestion that I think may be useful."
"What is that?" I asked.
Turning to the manager, Jack asked if the horses which the ladies rode were the most intelligent of the outfit.