Here they held another council, and decided that there was too much risk in turning on to the main path again; as that was sure to be occupied by the enemy, who would be burying their dead, or examining any loot that they had captured from the carriers.

After proceeding two or three miles, they came upon another path on the right.
"This path," said Lisle, "will take us in the proper direction." "I doubt if we shall ever get there," Hallett said.

"I am feeling as hungry as a rat, already; and we have seen nothing to put between our lips since we started out, yesterday morning." "It is a little rough," Lisle said cheerfully, "but we must hit upon a village, presently." "I should not mind, if the path went on straight," Hallett said, "but it zigzags so much that we can never feel certain that we are going in the right direction." "Well, you see," said Lisle, "we have passed two tracks to the left, since we struck into this road.

I cannot help thinking that these must lead to villages, and that the one we are following is a sort of connecting link between them.

I vote that we stop at the next one we come to." "All right, old man! It seems to me that it will make no great difference which way we go.