"That you should aim the gun. He would then flee at once."
Elwood laughed and added:
"But we have no breakfast, and we may as well be moving."
"You're a sensible boy," added Tim O'Rooney, "be the towken that when ye spakes ye quiverally anticipates me own thoughts."
They soon reached the level of the valley, and then took a direction straight toward the spot where they had seen the camp-fire burning. The intervening space was quite thickly grown with trees and vegetation, so that they could obtain no sight of the fire itself until they were very close to it.
"We must be careful," admonished Howard. "If it is a party of Indians they may discover us before we do them."
"I don't suppose it will do for us all to walk straight up to them, for they'll be sure to see us then."
"No, one must creep up and find whether the coast is clear. Tim has seen more of California than we have, and he can do that if he wishes."
"Sinsible agin, for I was about to spake the same. Do yees tarry here while I takes a look around. Whist! now, and kaap so still that ye'll hear me brathe all the way there and back agin."
The boys took their position each behind a large tree, and looking cautiously forth they awaited the return of their friend.