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Chapter 45

           Theintermediatelinkswerereadilysupplied—partlybytheinterpretationsofthetracker,andpartlybyconjecture.

           Noonepausedtoinvestigatethemotive—atleastwithanydegreeofcloseness.ThehostilityofGeraldwasaccountedforbyhisquarrelwithCalhoun;onthesuppositionthatitmighthaveextendedtothewholefamilyofthePoindexters!

           Itwasveryabsurdreasoning;butmenuponthetrackofasupposedmurdererrarelyreasonatall.Theythinkonlyofdestroyinghim.

           Withthisthoughtdidtheyseparate;intendingtostartafreshonthefollowingmorning,throwthemselvesoncemoreuponthetrailofthetwomenwhoweremissing,andfollowitup,tilloneorbothshouldbefound—oneorboth,livingordead.

           ThepartyleftwithSpanglerremaineduponthespotwhichthemajorhadchosenasacampingground.

           Theywereinalllessthanadozen.Alargernumberwasdeemedunnecessary.Comanches,inthatquarter,werenolongertobelookedfor;norwasthereanyotherdangerthatcalledforastrengthofmen.Twoorthreewouldhavebeensufficientforthedutyrequiredofthem.

           Nineortenstayed—someoutofcuriosity,othersforthesakeofcompanionship.Theywerechieflyyoungmen—sonsofplantersandthelike.Calhounwasamongthem—theacknowledgedchiefoftheparty;thoughSpangler,actingasguide,wastacitlyunderstoodtobethemantowhomobedienceshouldbegiven.

           Insteadofgoingtosleep,aftertheothershadriddenaway,theygatheredaroundaroaringfire,alreadykindledwithinthethicketglade.

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