He could not satisfy himself about them; and he thought of Lucien, who understood the habits of these various animals better than himself.

He began to think both of Lucien and Francois--for two hours had now passed, and they did not make their appearance! He was fast becoming uneasy, when a small group of objects was seen approaching from the eastward, which, to his joy, proved to be the party.
In half an hour afterwards they rode up greeting their brother with joyful shouts.

They had been travelling briskly ever since the morning, and upon Basil's tracks too, showing what a stretch of ground he must have passed over in his wild gallop.

They saw at once that the white horse had got off; and Basil, in a few words, gave them an account of the chase and how it had come to an end.
As it was now afternoon, and the butte still appeared distant, they made but a short halt--just long enough to swallow a morsel of meat and take a drink from their water-gourds, which, owing to the intense heat, were now better than half empty.

Their animals already suffered from thirst; so, without delay, the young hunters got into their saddles, with the intention of continuing their journey.
"Across the dog-town ?" inquired Francois, who had mounted first.