The hound is with them, not now trotting idly after, but in front, with nose to the earth. They are on Darke's trail. The animal has just struck, and is following it, though not fast. For a strap around its neck, with a cord attached, and held in Clancy's hand, keeps it in check, while another buckled about its jaws hinders it from giving tongue. Both precautions show Clancy's determination to take pains with the game he is pursuing, and not again give it a chance to get away.

Twice has his mother's murderer escaped him. It will not be so a third time.

They are trailing in darkness, else he would not need a.s.sistance from the dog. For it is only a short while since his separation from the party that went on to the Mission. Soon as getting into their saddles, Clancy and his faithful follower struck into the timber, at the point where Darke was seen to enter, and they are now fairly on his tracks.

In the obscurity they cannot see them; but the behaviour of the hound tells they are there.

"Yes; Brasfort's on it now," says Clancy, calling the animal by a name long ago bestowed upon it.

"He's on it strong, Jupe. I can tell by the way he tugs upon the string."

"All right, Ma.s.ser Charle. Give him plenty head. Let him well out.

Guess we can keep up with him. An' the sooner we overtake the n.i.g.g.e.r whipper, the better it be for us, an' the worser for him. Pity you let him go. If you'd 'lowed Ma.s.s Woodley to shoot down his hoss--"

"Never mind about that. You'll see himself shot down ere long, or--"

"Or what, ma.s.ser?"

"Me!"

"Lor forbid! If I ever see that, there's another goes down long side you; either the slave-catcher or the slave."

"Thanks, my brave fellow! I know you mean it. But now to our work; and let us be silent. He may not have gone far, and's still skulking in this tract of timber. If so, he stands a chance to hear us. Speak only in a whisper."

Thus instructed, Jupe makes a gesture to signify compliance; Clancy turning his attention to the hound.

By this, Brasfort is all eagerness, as can be told by the quick vibration of his tail, and spasmodic action of the body. A sound also proceeds from his lips, an attempt at baying; which, but for the confining muzzle would make the forest echoes ring around. Stopped by this his note can be heard only a short distance off, not far enough for them to have any fear. If they but get so near the man they are in chase of, they will surely overtake him.

In confidence the trackers keep on; but obstructed by the close standing trunks, with thick underwood between, they make but slow progress. They are more than an hour in getting across the timbered tract; a distance that should not have taken quarter the time.

At length, arriving on its edge, they make stop; Clancy drawing back the dog. Looking across the plain he sees that, which tells him the instinct of the animal will be no longer needed--at least for a time.

The moon, shining upon the meadow gra.s.s, shows a list differently shaded; where the tall culms have been bent down and crushed by the hoof of some heavy quadruped, that has made its way amidst them. And recently too, as Clancy, skilled in tracking, can tell; knowing, also, it is the track of d.i.c.k Darke's horse.

"You see it?" he says, pointing to the lighter shaded line. "That's the a.s.sa.s.sin's trail. He's gone out here, and straight across the bottom.

He's made for the bluff yonder. From this he's been putting his animal to speed; gone in a gallop, as the stretch between the tracks show. He may go that way, or any other, 'twill make no difference in the end. He fancies himself clever, but for all his cleverness he'll not escape me now."

"I hope not, Ma.s.ser Charle; an' don't think he will; don't see how he can."

"He can't."

For some time Clancy is silent, apparently absorbed in serious reflection. At length, he says to his follower:--

"Jupe, my boy, in your time you have suffered much yourself, and should know something of what it is to feel vengeful. But not a vengeance like mine. That you can't understand, and perhaps may think me cruel."

"You, Ma.s.ser Charle!"

"I don't remember ever having done a harsh thing in my life, or hurt to anyone not deserving it."

"I am sure you never did, ma.s.ser."

"My dealing with this man may seem an exception. For sure as I live, I'll kill him, or he shall kill me."

"There'd be no cruelty in that. He deserve die, if ever man did."

"He shall. I've sworn it--you know when and where. My poor mother sent to an untimely grave! Her spirit seems now speaking to me--urging me to keep my oath. Let us on!"

They spur out into the moonlight, and off over the open plain, the hound no longer in the lead. His nose is not needed now. The slot of Darke's galloping horse is so conspicuous they can clearly see it, though going fast as did he.

Half an hour at this rapid pace, and they are again under shadow. It is that of the bluff, so dark they can no longer make out the hoof-marks of the retreating horseman.

For a time they are stayed, while once more leashing the hound, and setting it upon the scent.

Brasfort lifts it with renewed spirit; and, keeping in advance, conducts them to an opening in the wall of rock. It is the entrance to a gorge going upward. They can perceive a trodden path, upon which are the hoof-prints of many horses, apparently an hundred of them.

Clancy dismounts to examine them. He takes note, that they are of horses unshod; though there are some with the iron on. Most of them are fresh, among others of older date. Those recently made have the convexity of the hoof turned towards the river. Whoever rode these horses came down the gorge, and kept on for the crossing. He has no doubt, but that they are the same, whose tracks were observed in the slough, and at the ford--now known to have been made by the freebooters.

As these have come down the glen, in all likelihood they will go up it in return.

The thought should deter him from proceeding farther in that direction.

But it does not. He is urged on by his oath--by a determination to keep it at all cost. He fancies Darke cannot be far ahead, and trusts to overtaking, and settling the affair, before his confederates come up.

Reflecting thus, he enters the ravine, and commences ascending its slope, Jupiter and Brasfort following.

On reaching the upland plain, they have a different light around, from that below on the bottom-land. The moon is clouded over, but her silvery sheen is replaced by a gloaming of grey. There are streaks of bluish colour, rose tinted, along the horizon's edge. It is the dawn, for day is just breaking.

At first Clancy is gratified by a sight, so oft gladdening hearts.

Daylight will a.s.sist him in his search.

Soon, he thinks otherwise. Sweeping his eyes over the upland plain, he sees it is sterile and treeless. A thin skirting of timber runs along the bluff edge; but elsewhere all is open, except a solitary grove at no great distance off.

The rendezvous of the robbers would not be there, but more likely on the other side of the arid expanse. Noting a trail which leads outwards, he suspects the pursued man to have taken it. But to follow in full daylight may not only defeat all chance of overtaking him, but expose them to the danger of capture by the freebooters coming in behind.

Clancy casts his eye across the plain, then back towards the bottom-land. He begins to repent his imprudence in having ventured up the pa.s.s. But now to descend might be more dangerous than to stay.

There is danger either way, and in every direction. So thinking, he says:

"I fear, Jupe, we've been going too fast, and it may be too far. If we encounter these desperadoes, I needn't tell you we'll be in trouble.

What ought we to do, think you?"

"Well Ma.s.ser Charle, I don't jest know. I'se a stranger on these Texas prairies. If 'twar in a Ma.s.sissip swamp, I might be better able to advise. Hyar I'se all in a quandairy."

"If we go back we may meet them in the teeth. Besides, I shan't--can't now. I must keep on, till I've set eyes on d.i.c.k Darke."

"Well, Ma.s.ser Charle, s'pose we lie hid durin' the day, an' track him after night? The ole dog sure take up the scent for good twenty-four hours to come. There's a bunch of trees out yonner, that'll give us a hidin' place; an' if the thieves go past this way, we sure see 'em.

They no see us there."

"But if they go past, it will be all over. I could have little hope of finding him alone. Along with them he would--"

Clancy speaks as if in soliloquy.