Having at length found it, they set off, at the highest speed which they felt that their animals could endure.

Over soft ground, the marks left by six horses, running in one compact band, could be without difficulty followed.

But at times the nature of the soil was such that but a very indistinct imprint of their footprints was left.
As the thief, in his flight, conscious that he might be overtaken, would make no difference between day and night, it was necessary that his pursuers should also press on without allowing darkness to delay them.
This added greatly to the difficulty of following the trail.

But the sagacity of Carson and his intelligent Indian comrade triumphed over all these obstacles.

For one hundred miles they followed the fugitive with unerring precision.