He crossed the entire town and rode a few hundred paces beyond it without meeting any fresh traces.

He was about to return, when it occurred to him that, if the tracks of the three riders reappeared anywhere, it would be at the head of the bridge.

And there, sure enough, he found the hoof-prints of three horses, which were undoubtedly those he sought, for one of them paced.
Roland galloped in pursuit.

On reaching Monceaux--same precaution, the riders had skirted the village; but Roland was too good a scout to trouble himself about that.

He kept on his way, and at the other end of Monceaux he recovered the fugitives' tracks.