From time to time they saw horsemen crossing a clearing, and all going in different directions; some passed close enough to touch them without perceiving the hunters, owing to the precautions the latter had taken, and then disappeared in the forest. Several hours passed thus, the hunters being quite unable to comprehend the delay, the reason for which the reader, however, knows; the moon had disappeared, and the darkness become denser. Loyal Heart, not knowing to what he should attribute Black-deer's lengthened absence, and fearing some unforeseen misfortune had burst on the village, was about to give the order for returning, when Tranquil, who, by crawling on his hands and knees, had reached the open plain where he remained for some time as scout, suddenly returned to his comrades. "What is the matter?" Loyal Heart whispered in his ear. "I cannot say," the hunter answered, "I do not understand it myself. About an hour back, an Indian suddenly sprung up by my side as if emerging from the ground, and leaping on a horse of whose presence I was equally ignorant, started at full speed in the direction of the village." "That is strange," Loyal Heart muttered; "and you do not know who the Indian is?" "Apache." "Apache, impossible!" "That is just the point that staggers me; how could an Apache venture to the village alone?" "There is something up we do not know; and then the signals we heard?" "This man answered them." "What is to be done?" "Find out." "But in what way?" "Why, hang it, by rejoining our friends." Loyal Heart shook his head. "No," he said, "we must employ some other method, for I promised Black-deer to help him in this expedition, and I will not break my word." "It is evident that important events have occurred among the tribe." "That is my opinion too, but you know the prudence of the Indians, so we will not despair yet; stay," he added, as he tapped his forehead, "I have an idea, we shall soon know what is taking place; leave me to act." "Do you require our help?" "Not positively; I shall not go out of sight, but if you see me in danger, come up." "All right," Loyal heart took a long rope of plaited leather, which served him as a picquet cord, and laying down his rifle, which might have impeded him in the execution of the daring plan he had formed, lay down on the ground and crawled away like a serpent. The plain was covered with dead trees and enormous stones, while there were wide trenches at certain spots. This open ground, so singularly broken up, offered, therefore, all the facilities desirable for forming an ambuscade or a post of observation.