Chapter 13

           "I’llseekareadierpath."

           Parnell.

           TheroutetakenbyHawkeyelayacrossthosesandyplains,relievedbyoccasionalvalleysandswellsofland,whichhadbeentraversedbytheirpartyonthemorningofthesameday,withthebaffledMaguafortheirguide.Thesunhadnowfallenlowtowardsthedistantmountains;andastheirjourneylaythroughtheinterminableforest,theheatwasnolongeroppressive.Theirprogress,inconsequence,wasproportionate;andlongbeforethetwilightgatheredaboutthem,theyhadmadegoodmanytoilsomemilesontheirreturn.

           Thehunter,likethesavagewhoseplacehefilled,seemedtoselectamongtheblindsignsoftheirwildroute,withaspeciesofinstinct,seldomabatinghisspeed,andneverpausingtodeliberate.Arapidandobliqueglanceatthemossonthetrees,withanoccasionalupwardgazetowardsthesettingsun,orasteadybutpassinglookatthedirectionofthenumerouswater-courses,throughwhichhewaded,weresufficienttodeterminehispath,andremovehisgreatestdifficulties.Inthemeantime,theforestbegantochangeitshues,losingthatlivelygreenwhichhadembellisheditsarches,inthegraverlightwhichistheusualprecursorofthecloseofday.