"So he could," said Dick, "but I imagine that General Grant wants the
colonel to come at once."
They turned northward now and an hour later found numerous hoofprints in
a narrow road.
"All these were made by well-shod horses," said the sergeant, after
examining the tracks critically. "Now, we've plenty of horseshoes and
the Johnnies haven't. That's one sign."
"What's the other?"
"I calculate that about six hundred men have passed here, and that's
pretty close to the number Colonel Hertford has, unless he's been in a
hot fight."
"Good reasoning, Sergeant, and I'll add a third. Those men are riding
directly toward the place where, according to our maps and information,
we ought to meet Colonel Hertford."
"All these things make me sure our men have passed here, Mr. Mason.
Suppose we follow on as hard as we can?"
Cheered by the belief that they were approaching the end of their quest
they advanced at such a rate that the great trail rapidly grew fresher.
"Their horses are tired now," said the sergeant, "and likely we're going
as fast as they are.
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