Page:Cornelia Meigs-The Pirate of Jasper Peak.djvu/91

 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