At last the morning began to break in a dim misty light, and as it grew stronger they were able to perceive how dense was the fog that surrounded them.  At three paces distant they were invisible to each other.

“It does not seem to me that we are much better off than we were before, so far as finding the path lies.  What do you think?”

“It looks bad, certainly,” the officer admitted reluctantly.  “I am awfully sorry I have led you into this mess.”

“It can’t be helped,” Ralph said.  “We must make the best of matters.  At any rate it’s better than it was, and the mist is not nearly as heavy as when we were marching up that valley.”

CHAPTER XI.

STILL-HUNTING.

“Now, sergeant, the men may as well fall in,” Ralph said cheerfully, “and then we will set about finding this path.  On which side do you think it is most likely to lie, Mr. Fitzgibbon?”

“I really can’t give an opinion, sir.  You see there is not a breath of wind to help us, and in this sort of light there is no telling where the sun is, so I don’t know at the present moment which way we are facing.”

“Well, we will try to the right first, sergeant,” Ralph said.  “I will lead the way.  Let the men follow at a distance of about ten paces apart.  I will keep on speaking.  Do you stand at the left of the file, and when the last man has gone ten paces from you pass the word along.  By that time I shall be about two hundred yards away.  If I have not found the path then we will come back to you and do the same thing on the left.  If we don’t light upon the path itself we may come upon some rise or bog or something that will enable Mr. Fitzgibbon to form an idea as to where we are.”

This was done, but beyond finding that the ground on the right was higher than that on the left no index as to their position was discovered.

“You see, Mr. Fitzgibbon, we are on sloping ground rising to the right.  Now, does that help you at all?”

“Not much sir.  The country here is all undulating.”

“Very well, then, we must try a march forward.  Now, sergeant, place the men five paces apart.  Do you put yourself in the center.  I will move on three yards ahead of you.  I shall go as straight forward as I can, but if you think I am inclining either to the right or left you say so.  The fact that the ground is sloping ought to be a help to us to keep straight.  I wish it sloped a little more, then one would be able to tell directly whether one was keeping straight.  Let the men speak to each other every few paces so as to keep the right distances apart.”

Mr. Fitzgibbon placed himself by Ralph’s side, and they started.  For half an hour they kept on, then Ralph cried, “Halt.  I am certain I am going downhill, it may be because I have changed my direction, or it may be because there is a change in the lay of the ground.  What do you think?”