Without stating his intention, he took leave of the Hopkins family with the cheerful assurance that he would probably return with some news of Hooker, and rode away.
The trail became more indistinct and unfrequented as it diverged from the main road, and presently lost itself in the slope towards the east.
The horizon grew larger: there were faint bluish lines upon it which he knew were distant mountains; beyond this a still fainter white line--the Sierran snows.

Presently he intersected a trail running south, and remarked that it crossed the highway behind him, where he had once met the two mysterious horsemen.

They had evidently reached the terrace through the wild oats by that trail.

A little farther on were a few groups of sheds and canvas tents in a bare and open space, with scattered cattle and horsemen, exactly like an encampment, or the gathering of a country fair.

As Clarence rode down towards them he could see that his approach was instantly observed, and that a simultaneous movement was made as if to anticipate him.