The four men looked at the dog for several moments in silence, when the captain spoke:
"You're dead right," added Ruggles in the same undertone; "we've got 'em cornered sooner than we expected."
"They can't go far," said the parson, "without being stopped by the rocks, when we shall have them in the nicest trap that was ever set for any game."
The reflection of Vose Adams was of a different nature.
"If they make fools of themselves and upset all my plans, what can I do to help 'em? Why didn't they stay where they promised to stay, and why didn't they kill that blamed dog afore he played this trick on 'em?"
Timon stood for two or three minutes so immovable that he suggested a stone image of himself, carved out of the rock on which he was perched. Then he emitted a single husky bark and leaped lightly down from where he had been standing. It was no more than a dozen feet, and he alighted as gracefully as a panther. He trotted part way to the horsemen, who were closely watching his movements, stopped, barked again and wheeling, trotted forward over precisely the course Vose Adams was taking when checked by the appearance of the canine.
The men looked at one another in astonishment. The action of the dog was unaccountable, but Captain Dawson's explanation sounded reasonable.
"That shows we are on the right track and he has come to guide us to where they are awaiting him."
There could be no doubt of it. The actions of the brute said as plainly as so many words: "Come with me and I will take you straight to the people you want to see."
Instead of following Timon at once, the party kept watch of him. He trotted a dozen steps and then paused and looked back. Observing that he was not understood, he emitted several more barks, took a couple of steps and then repeated the performance. His object was so evident that Captain Dawson said:
"That's as plain as the nose on your face; the animal is worth a dozen guides like you, Vose."
"Then why don't you foller him?" sulkily asked the latter.
Observing that the captain left his horse standing, the parson inquired the reason.
"They are of no use to us and will be only a bother; leave them here until we need them; I will follow the dog and you can take what order you choose, but," he added with unmistakable earnestness, "every one of you must keep in the background till I'm through."