A vigilant look-out had been kept all round the thicket, while the dogs hunted it from end to end, but no signs had been seen of it, and none were able to understand how it could have slipped between the watchers unseen.
After the ravine had been thoroughly beaten the party had moved off to another cover.

On their way there the marquis had missed the two boys.

No one had seen them, and it was supposed that they had loitered behind in the forest.

Two or three notes of recall had been blown, and then no one had thought more of the matter until they rode into the glade when the second wolf had just been pulled down by the pack.
It was afternoon when the hunting party arrived at the chateau.
Before they started homewards the marquis had sent off two horsemen; one to Dijon to bring a surgeon with all speed to the chateau, the other to tell the marquise that Ernest had been hurt, and that everything was to be got in readiness for him; but that she was not to make herself uneasy, as the injury was not a serious one.

The messengers were charged strictly to say nothing about the death of the demon wolf.
The marquise and her daughters were at the entrance as the party arrived.