In a short time two horsemen came along at a walking pace.
"I call this a fool's errand altogether," one of them said in a grumbling tone.

"We don't know that they have headed this way; and if they have, we might search these woods for a month without finding them." "That's so," the other said; "but Mullens has set his heart on it, and we must try for another day or two.

My idea is that when the fellow heard what sort of a chap Mullens was, he took the train back that night and went up North again." Vincent heard no more, but it was enough to show him that a sharp hunt was being kept up for him; and although he had no fear of being caught in the woods, he was well pleased at the thought that he would soon be across the water and beyond the reach of his enemy.

He went back again to the edge of the clearing and resumed his watch.

It was just getting dusk, and he was about to join Dan when he saw a party of twelve men ride out from the other side of the wood and make toward the house.
Filled with a vague alarm that possibly someone might have caught sight of him and his follower on the previous day, and might, on being questioned by the searchers, have given them a clew as to the direction in which they were going, Vincent hurried to the spot where he left Dan.
The negro jumped up as he approached.
"Me awake long time, sah.