But despair was not the only emotion
in his heart. The silent and brave man meant to act.
"Henry," he said, "see these tracks here in the soft spot by the
creek."
The young leader read the forest page, and it told him exactly
the same tale that it had told Tom Ross.
"About a day old, I think," he said.
"Just about," said Tom; "an' I reckon, Henry, you know what's in
my mind."
"I think I do," said Henry, " and we ought to overtake them by
to-morrow night. You tell the others, Tom."
Tom informed Shif'less Sol, Paul, and Long Jim in a few words,
receiving from everyone a glad assent, and then the five followed
fast on the trail. They knew that the Indians could not go very
fast, as their speed must be that of the slowest, namely, that of
the children, and it seemed likely that Henry's prediction of
overtaking them on the following night would come true.
It was an easy trail. Here and there were tiny fragments of
cloth, caught by a bush from the dress of a captive. In one
place they saw a fragment of a child's shoe that had been dropped
off and abandoned. Paul picked up the worn piece of leather and
examined it.
"I think it was worn by a girl," he said, "and, judging from its
size, she could not have been more than eight years old.
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