Mr. Hardy then went on, addressing himself to the others: "Of
course this fire was lit with the especial intent of throwing us
off the scent. Have you any idea how far it is likely to have
come?" he asked the Gauchos. "That is, are you aware of the
existence of any wide stream or damp ground which would have
checked it, and which must therefore be the furthest boundary of
the fire?"
The Gauchos were silent a minute; then Perez said, "The next stream
is fifteen miles further; but it is small, and would not stop the
fire going with the wind. Beyond that there is no certain stream,
as far as I know of."
"The ground rises, and the grass gets thinner and poorer thirty
miles or so on. I should say that they would light it this side of
that," Martinez said. The other Gauchos nodded assent.
"We took the bearings of the track by our compass," Farquhar said.
"Could we not follow it on by compass across the burned ground, and
hit it upon the other side?"
Mr. Percy and Mr. Hardy both shook their heads. "I do not pretend
to say where the trail is gone," the former said, "but the one
place where I am quite sure it is not, is on the continuation of
the present line."
"No," Mr. Hardy continued. "As you say, Percy, there it certainly
is not.
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