passed more rapids, threaded narrow stretches of river, then wider ones, but still the dark held and the journey seemed never to come to an end. At last the Indian spoke again.
“That squaw whom you whites call Laughing Mary told me to tell you, I do not know why, that the man of Jasper Peak passed through Two Rivers only a few hours before you, and must be camping in these woods. I think that is his fire now.”
Far off through the black tree trunks there could be seen a faint red glare that grew brighter as they went along.
“Do you mean Half-Breed Jake?” inquired Hugh anxiously. “Was he alone?”
“There were two Indians with him,” replied Shokatan. “Yes, that is their camp. It is better that they should not see us go by.”
They came nearer, saw the firelight flickering among the trees, saw two black figures stretched upon the ground rolled in their blankets and sound asleep. One man only was sitting upright, his back against a pine, his face toward the
