At the sound of hooves approaching, Johnson looked up. It was Scott, accompanied by four men on horseback; irregulars by their dress. One of them, a hard and capable-looking individual, wore a corporal’s chevrons.

“Name?” Johnson enquired.

“Stryker, Colonel,” the corporal said, saluting.

“Captain Scott’s explained the situation? You know what’s required?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Very good. It appears we have some new information to aid you. Who’s the tracker here?”

“We can all follow a trail after a fashion, Colonel, but it’s Private Fitch who has the gift.” The corporal indicated a lean, sharp-nosed soldier mounted on his right-hand side.

Fitch touched his cap respectfully. “Colonel.”

“There’s a large oak by the side of the trail; four, maybe five miles back,” Johnson said. He turned to the pastor. “East side or west?”

“West,” De Witt said, after another moment’s consideration.

“It’s old,” Johnson said, “and it carries the highway mark. You might be able to pick up the boy’s spoor from there. You know he’s mounted?”

“Yes, sir,” Fitch said.

“There’ll be paw prints, too, hopefully. His dog. That’s why he left the trail – the hound ran off. Needless to say, the boy is your priority, nothing else.”

“Colonel Johnson,” De Witt said from behind.

Johnson turned and discovered that while he’d been relaying instructions to the soldiers De Witt had taken his daughter’s place in the mare’s saddle.

“Reverend?” Johnson said, frowning.

“With your permission, Colonel. I’d like to go with them.”

Johnson stared at him. “What? No. Out of the question.”

The pastor’s expression changed. His face took on a hard cast. “In that case, Colonel, I’m afraid I must insist.”

It occurred to Johnson that the pastor was on horseback while he was on foot, not a good position to be in when you were trying to assert your authority. Climbing into his saddle, he fixed the pastor with a flinty stare.

“Insist, Reverend? Need I remind you who’s in command here?”

De Witt shook his head though his expression did not alter. He suddenly looked a different man to the one Johnson had been introduced to; more purposeful, a man whose confidence had been restored. “I assure you that’s not necessary, Colonel. If I gave the impression of having suggested anything other than that, I apologize. I certainly meant no disrespect. However, the boy was placed in my care. If I may quote the good book: ‘What man of you having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness and go after that which is lost, until he find it?’” The pastor drew himself up. “I consider the boy to be one of my flock. I am responsible for him, therefore, and he is lost in the wilderness, is he not?”