CHAPTER XIX
THUNDER-MAKER'S DOWNFALL
During the rest of the journey through the hills and along Trapper's Pass, no further accidents occurred to hinder progress, and once free of the hills the trail was level and across a stretch of prairie.
Towards night the Pleasant Valley was reached, and the three travellers descended to the part of the river known to trappers as the Old Crossing, though it was a ford where no water flowed.
On reaching this camp-ground there were evidences of the recent presence of strangers. Moreover, these strangers were not travelling in any secret way, since they had taken no pains to conceal their tracks, and the ashes of trampled-out fires were still warm.
Mackintosh carefully examined the surroundings, and came to the decision, from certain signs, that it had been an Indian camp.
"To my mind the best thing for us to do is to rest here for an hour or two," the man said.
"I shan't be sorry," said Bob. "We pressed on rather rapidly, and, to tell you the truth, I'm rather fagged."