For once Ardan had no reply to make, he and Maston resuming their walk in silence. From time to time,indeed, they raised great shouts, calling alternately Barbicane and Nicholl, neither of whom, however,answered their cries. Only the birds, awakened by the sound, flew past them and disappeared among the branches, while some frightened deer fled precipitately before them.
For another hour their search was continued. The greater part of the wood had been explored. There was nothing to reveal the presence of the combatants. The information of the bushman was after all doubtful,and Ardan was about to propose their abandoning this useless pursuit, when all at once Maston stopped.