The way was obstructed by roots and rotten tree trunks, and so densely shaded as to be in places almost imperceptible, but Sam managed to find its windings, while we held close enough behind to keep him safely in sight.

Once we came into view of the river, but the larger part of the way lay along a hollow, heavily overshadowed by trees, where we could see only a few feet in any direction.
At the crossing of a small stream we noticed the imprint of several feet in the soft mud of the shore.

One plainly enough was small and narrow, beyond all question that of a woman, but the others were all men's, one being clad in moccasins.

Beyond this point the path trended downward, winding along the face of the hill and much more easily followed.

Sam, still ahead, started to clamber across the trunk of a fallen tree, but came to a sudden halt, staring downward at something concealed from our view on, the other side.
"Good Lord o' mercy!" he exclaimed, excitedly.
"What's dat ?" I was close beside him by this time and saw the thing also--the body of a man lying on the ground.