"Somehow or other we went wrong altogether, and saw nothing of your smoke.

I was afraid something was wrong, but did not know what to do; so we halted till it came on dark, and presently made out a fire; but it was miles away, and right in the direction from which we had come.
I did not think it could be you but, whether it was you or the blacks, that was the place to ride to." "Have you got the tracker with you, sergeant ?" "Yes, sir; at least, I saw him trotting ahead, ten minutes ago.
Why, where has he got to ?" The tracker was not to be seen.
"He has made off to join the blacks, I expect," Reuben said.

"You have been led astray purposely.

We have been attacked, and Brown and Simpson are killed." An exclamation of rage broke from the men, who were in the act of dismounting.
"I expect," Reuben said, turning to Mr.Blount, "that the fellows noticed the talk I had with Jim, before we turned back from the false trail, and concluded that we had some suspicion that they were in league with the blacks; and so, when the party separated, they determined to lead the two flanking columns astray, so as to give their friends a chance of attacking us, and then to bolt." "I expect that is it," Mr.Blount agreed.

"And now, the first thing is to get something to eat.