They felt that there was no chance of getting anything to eat, before they should come up with the buffaloes.

That was their only hope; and they spurred their horses afresh, and rode on as fast as the animals could travel.
Towards night their hunger had increased to a painful degree; and the eyes of all wandered occasionally upon Jeanette and the dog Marengo.
They began to contemplate the necessity of sacrificing one or other of these animals.

It would be a sad alternative--as both the mule and the dog were looked upon more in the light of companions than slaves.

Both had done good service during the expedition.

But for Marengo, Francois might never have been found; and Jeanette, in addition to having satisfactorily accomplished the duty assigned to her, had saved them from an encounter with one of the cougars.