“That would imply that they knew we were close behind them.”
“There can’t be any doubt of that. What bothered me was to learn what they had done with their horses, fur the prints that I followed was made by the folks’ feet. I couldn’t figger out what they had done with the animals, and I spent some more time in trying to larn, but it was no use.
“Bime by I struck better ground, where the trail was so clear I could have trotted over it.”
“Why didn’t you do it?” asked Ruggles.
Adams shook his head.
“It wouldn’t have done; as I said they must have 260 found out, purty early in the day, that we was after them, for if they didn’t, why did they turn off the reg’lar track?”
“Never mind asking questions,” replied the captain; “go on with your story.”
“Wal, pards, by that time I must have been a mile from here and it looked as if I’d have to go that much further. I had a good mind to come back after you, for time was important, but when another rocky, walled-up place showed in front of me, I was sartin I was close upon ’em. Their horses couldn’t make their way through such a spot, and I was sure I had ’em fast.”
“Why didn’t you come back at once?” said the captain, “but, never mind, go on with your account.”
“I thought it would be best to find out just how they was fixed. At the same time, it would never do to let ’em diskiver that I was about. So I was powerful careful and crept forward as if into an Injin camp. It wasn’t long before I smelled burning wood. That told me they had come to a stop, built a fire and didn’t dream I was anywhere in the neighborhood.