"That's a shame," Ulric said to Dinah.  "Maybe he'll be more of a challenge the second time around," he commented hopefully.

Ulric stepped toward John, looking at where the younger man was pointing and saw for himself that the tracks turned suddenly eastward.  The slaver crouched down to examine them.  "There's an extra set of tracks mixed in with 'em now" he said, his expert eyes noting where Water Snake's prints joined up with the others.  "Maybe leading 'em judging by the way some of the new prints are tracked over by our quarry."  

[hr]


"Is the journey far?"  Brinley asked Water Snake.  "To the boats, I mean?"