It was all to no purpose.

He saw nothing that would give him a clue to the spot where he had separated from his brothers.

He shouted aloud, but there was neither echo nor answer.

He fired off his rifle, and listened--thinking Lucien or Francois might reply by a similar signal; but no such signal gratified his ear.

He reloaded, and sat for a while in his saddle, buried in thought.
"Ha! I have it!" he exclaimed, suddenly raising himself in his stirrups, "Why was I so stupid?
Come, Black Hawk! we are not lost yet!" Basil had not been all his life a hunter for nothing; and although he had but little experience upon the prairies, his wood craft now stood him in stead.