His right hand was buried thoughtfully in the side-pocket of his coat.

Only Brace knew that it rested on the handle of his pistol.
From time to time the latter stopped and consulted the faint trail with a minuteness that showed recent careful study.

Suddenly he paused.

"I made a blaze hereabouts to show where to leave the trail.

There it is," he added, pointing to a slight notch cut in the trunk of an adjoining tree.
"But we've just passed one," said Dunn, "if that's what you are looking after, a hundred yards back." Brace uttered an oath, and ran back in the direction signified by his companion.