Do not ride upon the track--you may baffle him--leave him to himself." In a few seconds the hound stopped, uttered a short howl, and appeared to toss a dark object upon the grass with his snout.

Basil and Lucien had halted at a considerable distance, but they could see that the object was some loose feathers.
"The spot, beyond doubt, where Francois has killed the turkey," muttered Basil.

"If Marengo can only catch the trail by which he rode off all may be well; but--that--that--see! he is off again!" Now was the time that Basil and Lucien watched with beating hearts.
They knew that a crisis was at hand.

If Marengo, as Basil said, could find Francois' departing trail, then he could follow it up almost to a certainty.

Of this both the brothers were confident, as they knew the capabilities of the dog.