The whole party threw themselves
down on a sloping bank, pipes were taken out and lit, and the
probable direction of the chase discussed.
In a short time Charley rose, and saying, "I will see if I can get
anything better than dried meat for supper," exchanged his rifle
for Mr. Hardy's double-barreled gun, which was carried by Terence,
and whistling for the retriever, strolled off up the stream. In ten
minutes the double-barrels were heard at a short distance, and a
quarter of an hour afterward again, but this time faintly. Ten
minutes before the hour was up he appeared, wiping the perspiration
from his face, with seven and a half brace of plump duck.
"They were all killed in four shots," he said, as he threw them
down. "They were asleep in the pools, and I let fly right into the
middle of them before they heard me."
There was a general feeling of satisfaction at the sight of the
birds, which were tied in couples, and fastened on the horses.
In two minutes more they were again in the saddles, Hubert saying
to his father as they started, "There is one satisfaction, papa, we
can't miss the way. We have only to ride far enough, and we must
overtake them."
Mr. Hardy shook his head. He knew enough of Indian warfare to be
certain that every artifice and maneuver would have to be looked
for and baffled; for even when believing themselves safe from
pursuit, Indians never neglect to take every possible precaution
against it.
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