Although this conclusion was arrived at unanimously, it appeared to
be reluctantly conceded to by most of them, and the reason of this
became apparent as they were walking back toward the horses. "I
have little doubt that the conclusion we have arrived at is
correct," Herries remarked, "although somehow I am sorry for it;
for ever since our talk last night I have made up my mind that she
was most likely to be taken to the west. I suppose because the
Indians there are more warlike than those of the pampas, and
therefore likely to have furnished a larger contingent. Of course I
had no reason for thinking so, but so it was."
"That was just what I thought," Hubert said; and I the other
Englishmen admitted that they had all entertained a somewhat
similar idea.
At four in the afternoon they were again in the saddle, having
taken the precaution of filling their water-skins, and of watering
the horses the last thing.
"How far do you think it is across, papa?" Hubert asked.
"It cannot be very far, Hubert. We are so much nearer the place
where the fire began that I do not think it can have spread more
than ten miles or so across."
Mr. Hardy's conjecture proved to be correct. An hour and a half's
riding brought them to the other side of the burned prairie,
striking a point which they felt sure was to the south of the place
where the trail would have left it.
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