Nothing could be plainer, the traces are so numerous.

They were casual hunters, and it is not worth our while to follow them." Northward they still pursued their course, and struck another and larger trail which made Tayoga look grave.
"This is the path of seven or eight warriors," he said, "and it is likely that they are a scouting party.

They have come back, as we expected, to spy upon us and to cut off stragglers from our camp.

We will follow it a little while." It led south by west and seemed to go on with a definite purpose, but, after a mile or so, it divided, four warriors, as Tayoga said, going in one direction and three in the other.
"Suppose I follow those on the north a short distance while you take those on the south," suggested Robert.
"We will do so," said Tayoga, "and in an hour come back to this point." The three warriors were on the north, and, as the earth was soft, Robert saw their trail quite clearly leading steadily west by north.
His own ambition to excel as a trailer was aroused and he followed it with great energy.

Two or three times when the ground became hard and rocky he lost it, but a little search always disclosed it again, and he renewed the pursuit with increased zeal.