Then we went on again, once more placing rock, hill, and cedar forest between us and our supply column, this time with Fred's counsel ringing in our ears.
"Better send for nursemaids and perambulators, and have yourselves pushed!" At noon that day we found the track of the driven cattle, and soon after that came on the half-devoured carcass of a heifer that the Greeks had shot, presumably because it could not march, and perhaps with the added reason that freshly-killed meat would draw off leopards and hyenas and provide peace for a few miles.
Once on the trail it would not have been easy to lose it, except in the dark, for the Greek marauders were bent on speed and the driven cattle had smashed down the undergrowth in addition to leaving deep hoof-prints at every water-course.
The first suspicion that dawned on me of something more than mere freebooting on the part of Coutlass, was due to the discovery of hoof-prints of either mules or horses.

I was marching alone in advance, and came on them beside a stream that was only apparently fordable in that one place.

After making sure of what they were I halted to let Will and Brown catch up.
"Did Coutlass have money enough to buy mules for himself and gang ?" wondered Will.
"That robber ?" snorted Brown.

"When Lady Saffren Waldon refused him tobacco money in the hotel he tried to borrow from me!" "Where could be steal mules ?" Will asked.
"Nowhere.

Aren't any!" "Horses' then ?" "He'd never take horses.