Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1875-04-01
CHAPTER vi.
THE PURSUIT.

Such light travellers a. the MISS
ing ones had been left but little
trail upon the dry leaves of the for
est. The only course for the pursu-
ers, therefore, was to follow in the
direction which they had first taken
This, although the very one taken
by the lost ones on their way cut
led the party in pursuit further from
their search than they had been at
their starting point.
The reason for this was, that
Charles and Carrie, after reaching
the river, had strolled along its curv-
ing bank for two or three miles, to
place which Charles knew was as
near to the camp as where they had
at first reached the stream-so that
tho homeward course taken by
Charles would have formed at its
junction, with their outward one,
nearly right angle, and thus the
parties for tho nrst fow miles were
becoming further separated from
each other.
When darkness came on, and
neither torch lights nor shoutings
could call forth any response, Ed
ward in his increasing anxiety would
have changed their course; TO this
both his companions demurred, and
one of them then assured him that,
light IS had been the footsteps ofthe
wanderers, he had good evidence
that they were on their track, and
that the surest way was to follow
it-that for them TO wander through
trackless woods and thickets of
underbrush in q starless night, guild
ed only by torch.lights, would be as
uncertain and futile as to pursue the
fox-fires of the upland or the iqniS
tdtuuS Of the low. Tie soon convinc.
ed Edward and his other companion
that he was not deceiving them as to
signs, he showed them broken sticks
and Bonded twigs, and on rotten
log, over which they had passed, he
pointed to the plain impress of
boot which neither Of them doubted
had been worn by Charles. He
then stated that he had noticed
signs many times before, but forbore
mentioning them lest he should in
crease hopes that might not be real
lied. They cheerfully yielded to
his guidance, and promptly followed
his lead. Their progress was neces-
sarily slow, but being from time to
time assured that they were right.
they pressed bravely forward.
On reaching the bank Of the river
they were for long time delayed ;
not by losing all traces, but by find
Tag too many deviating in every di-
rection. Here had evidently been a
resting place for Charles and Caro-
line. A fallen tree had furnished
comfortable seat, and the prints of
the footsteps Of each, leading from
aud to it, showed clearly that some
time had been spent by them in that
locality, and many excursions had
been made by each, probably in
search of curious leaves, MOSES or
rocks, but none leading far enough
in any one direction to determine
definitely what course had finally
been taken. The case was difficult
one even for our skillful pioneer.
He directed his companions to re-
main stationary, lest their strolling
about should obliterate or obscure
the slight evidences by which he
alone could be guided.
1t was nearly midnight when be
determined to proceed upward. Be-
fore doing SO he discharged the rifles,
and while the hills and valleys
echoed and re-echoed the reports, it
brought no answering sign from the
lost ones so anxiously sought for
He then reloaded the guns with
double charges, carefully examined
the primings and affixed the caps;
and thus prepared marched slowly
onward.
Scarcely an hour had elapsed since
their last departure, when they were
suddenly clarified by a cracking of
branches in their rear. They had
barely time to prepare for action,
when came bounding within the
light Of torches, 'Dare," half-3reed
hound, which Charles Fisher had
brought from the East, and which
he kept chained at home. The
whole company knew the dog,
but his real or seeming ferocity had
not secured to him many friends
throughout the community. The
animal had been left chained as u.s.
ual on the preceding morning, and
how be should have appeared 50
suddenly was mystery. de PAID
but little attention to the party, but