He walked a
couple of miles without turning to the right or left, and then found
a new signal. The hole in the bole of the tree where the sign stood
was accompanied by a long cut in the bark of the left side.
This, as plainly as a voice from the thicket could have done, said:
"Turn to the left and keep on in that direction until you are further
instructed."
The turn to the left led Ned up the slope. So the field of action was
likely to be in the mountains again! The signs were closer together
now, and Ned followed them with faith that he was on the right track.
But who had made the trail? Was it Jimmie or Jack? Probably the
latter, Ned concluded, for Jimmie would not be likely to have had an
opportunity of so blazing his trail, while Jack was free to do so at
will.
But why had Jack gone away on the trail alone? Why had he not called
to him, Ned, in order that they might proceed together?
It was possible that the boy might be following some person whom he
suspected of the abduction, still that did not seem to be likely, as
any one tracking another in the broad light of day, in such a country
as that, over open places and rocky elevations, would be almost
certain to be discovered. Ned feared the boy was being led into a
trap.
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