The ground here was hard and sandy, so that little or no impression of a distinct kind was made on it; and as buffaloes had traversed it in all directions, he was soon utterly bewildered.

He thought it possible that, by running out for several miles in a straight line, and then taking a wide circuit round, he might find the tracks emerging from the confusion made by the buffaloes.

But he was again disappointed, for the buffalo tracks still continued, and the ground became less capable of showing a footprint.
Soon Dick began to feel so ill and weak from eating such poor fare, that he gave up all hope of discovering the tracks, and was compelled to push forward at his utmost speed in order to reach a less barren district, where he might procure fresh meat; but the farther he advanced the worse and more sandy did the district become.

For several days he pushed on over this arid waste without seeing bird or beast, and, to add to his misery, he failed at last to find water.

For a day and a night he wandered about in a burning fever, and his throat so parched that he was almost suffocated.