Page:Edward Ellis--Seth Jones.djvu/68

Rh us lay our beads together and decide at once what is to be done. As for me, I'm in favor of following the smaller party."

"What give you that idea?" asked Haverland. "I confess that I cannot give much reason for the notion, but somehow or other it has struck me that Ina is with the smaller party."

"Hardly probable," returned Haverland.

"It don't seem so, I allow," remarked the hunter; "but queerly enough the same notion has got into my head."

"Of course you can then give some reason."

"I can give what appears to have a show of reason to me. I have been doing a big amount of thinking for the last few minutes, and have almost reached a conclusion. I believe that the gal is with the smaller party, and it is the wish of the savages that we shall follow the main body. We will thus be drawn into ambush, and all further trouble from us will be removed."

"It seems hardly probable that the savages would run such a risk of losing their captive when there is no occasion for it," remarked Haverland.

"It don't seem probable, but it ain't the first thing they've done (providing of course they've done it), that would make you open your eyes. I believe these Mohawks are certain we won't suspect they've let the gal go off with two or three of their number when there were enough to watch her and keep her out the hands of a dozen such as we are. Feeling certain of this, I say they have let her go; and being sure also that we'll tramp on after them, they have made arrangements some distance away from here to dispose of us."

"Sound reasoning, I admit, but here's something to offer upon the other side," said Graham producing another fluttering rag from a bush.

"How is that upon the other side of the question?" queried he hunter.

"If you will notice the bush from which I took this, you will see it is upon the trail of the larger party, and consequently Ina must have been with that party to have left it there."

"Just show me the exact twig from which you took it," quietly asked Haldidge. Graham led the way a few yards off