“From what I know of the American race, it is unlike them.”
“What knowledge have we that they have not maintained such a lookout and discovered us as soon as we noticed the camp fire itself? They may have formed an ambuscade at some point further along the trail.”
“It is a disturbing possibility and I would be alarmed, but for my confidence in Vose. He has been through this region so often and knows these wild people so thoroughly that he could not commit a blunder 218 like that. It seems to me,” added the captain a few minutes, later, “that he is absent a long time.”
“It’s tough,” remarked Ruggles, “that things are fixed so we won’t have a chance to take any hand in this bus’ness.”
The captain looked inquiringly at him and he explained:
“You and Vose have set it up atween you.”
“I have told you that if your help is needed, it will be welcome; I can add nothing to that.”
“The captain is right,” interposed the parson, “but at the same time, he can see what a disappointment it is for us.”
“I admit that, but we are not out of the woods yet.”
Before he could make clear the meaning of this remark, Vose Adams emerged from the cedars, and the three breathlessly awaited his coming. He broke into a trot and quickly descended the slope to where they stood. The expression of his face showed before he spoke that he brought unwelcome news.