They gained upon the Indians, however, as they could tell by
the position of the camping ground for the night.
At three o'clock on the afternoon of the last day they passed the
place their enemy had left that morning; but although they kept on
until long after sunset, many of them having led their horses all
day, they were still more than thirty miles away from the mountains
among which they knew that the Indian village was situated,
None of the Gauchos had ever been there, but they knew its
situation and general features by report. There had been no
difficulty in following the trail since they had struck it. The
broad line of trodden ground and the frequent carcasses of sheep
sufficiently told the tale.
That was a night of terrible anxiety to all. They knew that already
Ethel was in the Indian village, and they thought with a sickening
dread of what might happen the next day. Nothing, however, could be
done. Many of the party were already exhausted by their long day's
walk under a burning sun. It was altogether impossible to reach the
village that night.
Before lying down for the night, Mr. Hardy asked all the party to
join in a prayer for the preservation of his daughter during the
following day; and it was a strange and impressing sight to see the
group of sunburned, travel-worn men standing uncovered while their
leader offered up an earnest prayer.
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