"Th' devils may be hidin' back here," answered Ed. "You an' Bill stay now, an' watch, whilst I looks."
Very cautiously Ed stole away, and Dick Blake and Bill Campbell waited patiently for an hour, when they discovered him walking boldly down toward them.
"They's gone," he announced. "I seen their canoe makin' a landin' on th' other side where th' river widens, away up above here."
An examination of the camping ground confirmed their conclusion that the Indians had in some manner learned of their danger and had fled, evidently in great haste, leaving behind them the snowshoe frames and some other trifles.
"That's explainin', now, what that sneakin' Injun lass was up to," declared Ed.
"What were she up to, now?" asked Dick.
"She were up to this," said Ed: "she were watchin' at th' river tilt for our comin', an' when we comes she up an' tells th' Injuns we're on their trail, an' they gets out quick. That's why she weren't stoppin' when she sees our fire last night, an' we'll never be seein' her again. She's a Nascaupee, an' it's lookin' now as if th' Nascaupees an' Mingens'll be workin' t'gether, an' if they be, they'll be layin' for us, now, an' we got t' look out."
"Aye," agreed Dick, "that's what they'll be doin', now, an' we got t' look out."
"Well," sighed Ed, as they turned to retrace their steps to the portage trail, "we may's well get back an' lay our plans. Them Injun females is worse'n wolverines; they's no trustin' any of un."