Chapter 2

           Beyonddoubt,thewaggonsofWoodleyPoindexterweregoingovergroundalreadytracedbythetiringoftheirwheels.

           "Ourowntracks!"mutteredCalhounonmakingthediscovery,addingafierceoathashereinedup.

           "Ourowntracks!Whatmeanyou,Cassius?Youdon’tsaywe’vebeentravelling—"

           "Onourowntracks.Ido,uncle;thatverything.Wemusthavemadeacompletecircumbendibusofit.See!here’sthehindhoofofmyownhorse,withhalfashoeoff;andthere’sthefootoftheniggers.Besides,Icantelltheground.That’stheveryhillwewentdownasweleftourlaststoppingplace.Hangthecrookedluck!We’vemadeacoupleofmilesfornothing."

           Embarrassmentisnolongertheonlyexpressionuponthefaceofthespeaker.Ithasdeepenedtochagrin,withanadmixtureofshame.Itisthroughhimthatthetrainiswithoutaregularguide.One,engagedatIndianola,hadpilotedthemtotheirlastcampingplace.There,inconsequenceofsomedispute,duetothesurlytemperoftheex-captainofvolunteers,themanhaddemandedhisdismissal,andgoneback.

           Forthis—asalsoforanill-timeddisplayofconfidenceinhispowertoconductthemarch—istheplanter’snephewnowsufferingunderasenseofshame.Hefeelsitkeenlyasthecarriolecomesup,andbrighteyesbecomewitnessesofhisdiscomfiture.

           Poindexterdoesnotrepeathisinquiry.Thattheroadislostisafactevidenttoall.