Page:Edward Ellis--Seth Jones.djvu/73

67 "Let me see," repeated the hunter, again reading the writing upon the stone, "he says they will encamp two or three miles from here. The sun has now set, but we shall have light for oyer an hour yet, sufficient to guide us. It's best for us to be moving forward, as there is no time to spare."

"It beats my time how that Jones got into this crowd," said Graham, half to himself, as the thee [sic] again moved forward.

"He's there, we know, and that is enough for the present; when we have the time to spare, we may speculate upon the matter. All ready."

"Yes,—but a moment. Haldidge, let us have some arrangement about the manner in which we are going to travel. Double caution is now necessary."

"I will keep my eyes upon the trail, as I have done all along, and see that we don't walk into a hornet's nest, with our eyes shut. You can help keep a look-out, while you, Graham, who have been so lucky thus far in stumbling upon what neither of us saw, will watch for more signs. Just as like as not, that Jones has been clever enough to give us some more good directions." Each understanding his duty, now prepared to fulfil it. The progress was necessarily slow, from the extreme caution exercised.

The hunter had proceeded but a short distance, when he noticed his shadow was cast upon the ground; and, looking up, saw to his regret, that the full moon was in the heavens. This was unfortunate for them; for, although it discovered the trail with as much certainty as in the day, and thus assisted them in the pursuit; yet the chances of their approach being made known to the Indians, was almost certain.

"Hist!" suddenly called Graham, in a whisper.

"What's up now?" asked the hunter, turning stealthily around.

"Some more writing from Seth."

Haverland and Haldidge approached. Graham was stooping beside a flat stone, endeavoring to decipher some character upon it. The light of the moon, although quite strong, was hardly sufficient. By dint of patience and perseverance, they succeeded in reading the following: