Pembroke had the body carried off but the hound tugged at his chain in the direction in which it had gone, and seemed to have lost all remembrance of the track upon which he was going.
At last Pembroke was obliged to acknowledge that it was useless to pursue longer, and, full of disappointment at their failure, the party returned to camp, Pembroke saying: "Our chase is but postponed.
We are sure to get tidings of Bruce's hiding place in a day or two, and next time we will have the hound muzzled, lest any hotheaded Highlander should again interfere to mar the sport." It was some days before further tidings were obtained of Bruce.
Archie did not leave his tent during this time, giving as a reason that he was afraid if he went out he should meet some of Lorne's men, who might take up the quarrel of the man who had been killed.
At length, however, another traitor came in, and Pembroke and his party set out as before, Hector being this time muzzled by a strap round his jaw, which would not interfere with his scent, but would prevent him from widely opening his jaws.
The scent of Bruce was again taken up at a lonely hut in the hills.
The country was far more broken and rough than that through which they had followed Bruce's trail on the preceding occasion.

Again Archie determined, but most reluctantly, that he would slay the noble dog; but he determined to postpone the deed to the latest moment.

Several places were passed where he might have succeeded in effecting his escape after stabbing the hound, but each time his determination failed him.

It would have been of no use to release the dog and make himself up the hillside, for a blood hound's pace when on the track is not rapid, and the horsemen could have kept up with Hector, who would of course have continued his way upon the trail of the king.

Presently two men were seen in the distance; they had evidently been alarmed by the bay of the hound, and were going at full speed.