He has gone straight into danger, and doubtless far enough from the bushman for the wind to carry off the noise of the shot!" "But we should have heard it!" answered Michel Ardan.
"But what if we came too late ?" exclaimed J.T.Maston in an accent of despair.
Michel Ardan did not find any answer to make.

Maston and he resumed their interrupted walk.

From time to time they shouted; they called either Barbicane or Nicholl; but neither of the two adversaries answered.

Joyful flocks of birds, roused by the noise, disappeared amongst the branches, and some frightened deer fled through the copses.
They continued their search another hour.

The greater part of the wood had been explored.