CHAPTER XXII.
DANGER.
Three Indians walked leisurely down to the shore of the river, as though in quest of nothing particular, and stood gesticulating as they generally do with their whole arms. They were about two hundred yards above the point where Tim O'Rooney landed, but their position was such that the canoe might have rested on the surface of the water without being seen. Sensible of their danger, the boys at first sight of them withdrew into cover, from which they cautiously peered out and watched their movements.
"Those must be the three who fired the guns," whispered Elwood.
"Very probably they are; that looks more encouraging, for I do not see Tim among them."
"Maybe they have slain him and are talking as to where he came from."
"Heaven! I hope not."
"So do I; but it looks reasonable that they have made away with him and are now looking for us."
"How did they know he had any friends with him? Then, too, if they had slain him, would they not have followed his trail straight down to the water?"