He called cautiously to Cato.

The negro did not reply.

He crossed to the tree and shook it impatiently.

Its boughs were empty; Cato was gone! The miserable negro must have taken advantage of the first diversion in his favor to escape.

But where, and how, there was nothing left to indicate.
As Courtland had taken little note of the trail, he had no idea of his own whereabouts.