“That thar observation’ll hold good with me too” uttered a fourth.

“Here’s in,” said the fifth and last.

“You’re all young men, and have got a right smart deal to larn yet,” resumed Boone, “afore you can be turned out rale ginuine woodsmen and hunters.  Now mark that thar small pebble stone, that lies by your feet on the rock.  Ef you look at it right close, you’ll perceive that on one side on’t the dirt looks new and fresh—­which proves it’s jest been started from its long quietude.  Now cast your eyes a little higher up, agin yon dirt ridge which partly kivers them thar larger stones, and you’ll see an indent that this here pebble stone just fits.  Now something had to throw that down, o’ course; and ef you’ll just look right sharp above it, you’ll see a smaller dent, that war made by the toe of some human foot, in getting up the bank.  Agin you’ll observe that thar dry twig, just above still, has been lately broke, as ef by the person war climbing up taking hold on’t for assistance; but that warn’t the reason the climber broke it—­it war done purposely; as you’ll see by the top part being bent up the hill, as ef to point us on.  By the Power that made me!” added Boone, gazing for a moment at the broken twig intently, “ef I arn’t wondrously mistaken, thar’s a leaf hanging to it in a way nater never fixed it.”

“Right, there is!” cried Henry, who, looking up with, the rest, chanced to observe it at the same moment with Boone; and springing forward with a light bound, he soon reached the spot, and returned with it in his hand.  It was a fall leaf, which had been fastened in a hasty manner to the twig in question, by a pin through its center.  On one side of it was scrawled, in characters difficult to be deciphered: 

“Follow—­fast—­for the love of Heaven!—­E.”

As Millbanks, after looking at it closely, read off these words, Boone started, clutched his rifle with an iron grasp, and merely saying, in a quiet manner, “Onward, lads—­I trust you’re now satisfied!” he sprang up the rocks with an agility that threatened to leave his young companions far in the rear.

All now pressed forward with renewed energy; and having gained the summit of the hill, which here rose to the height of eighty feet, they were enabled, by the aid of Caesar, to come quickly upon the trail of the Indians, who, doubtless supposing themselves now safe from pursuit, had taken little or no pains to conceal their course.  Of this their pursuers now took advantage, and hurried onward with long and rapid strides; now through thick dark woods and gloomy hollows; now up steep hills and rocky barren cliffs; now through tangles and over marshy grounds—­clearing all obstacles that presented themselves with an ease which showed that notwithstanding some of them might be inferior as woodsmen, none were at all events as travelers in the woods.