No danger could lurk in such a
place, and he was about to descend, and pursue his journey, when
suddenly he heard, up the road by which he came, the rapid tramp of a
body of horsemen. The mist was thicker below; so half-way down the tree
he went, and waited their coming. They moved at an irregular pace,
carrying lanterns, and pausing every now and then to inspect the road,
as if they had missed their way or lost something. Soon they came near,
and were dimly outlined in the gray mist, so the scout could make out
their number. There were thirty of them,--the original band, and a
reinforcement. Again they halted when abreast of the tree, and searched
the road narrowly.
"He must have come this way," said one,--he of the chivalry. "The other
road is six miles longer, and he would take the shortest route. It's an
awful pity we didn't head him on both roads."
"We kin come up with him yit, ef we turn plumb round, and foller on
t'other road,--whar we lost the trail,--back thar, three miles ter the
deadnin'."
Now another spoke, and his voice the scout remembered.
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