"We've got to trust him now," said Larry.
"There's no help for it; but we couldn't ask much better proof of friendship than he has given already."
"But we'll keep our eyes on him. It may be he's fixing things so as to gather in the whole lot of us."
Wharton thought his companion was unduly suspicious, but at the same time he recognized the prudence of his words, for he knew that these people sometimes show a boundless patience in waiting for the minute when they can make their vengeance the more complete.
The Shawanoe walked so fast that Larry was forced to break into a trot now and then to keep pace with him and the cleaner-limbed Wharton. The presence of the three hostiles at no great distance in front rendered necessary the precaution of Arqu-wao; for, if he ran upon them with the youths at his heels, a collision would be inevitable, with disastrous consequences.
The guide was putting forth all the cunning of which he was capable. It was necessary to come up with Blazing Arrow and his companions, and at the same time prevent their knowing it.
The journey was pushed in this manner for nearly a mile, and Wharton recognized, from familiar sights, that they were drawing near the turn in the dry ravine where he had had his singular encounter with Blazing Arrow when he recovered his gun from him.
Somehow or other the conviction had fastened upon him that the spot was again to be the scene of stirring events.
"Halloo!" he exclaimed in an undertone. "He has discovered something, and we must wait till he signals us to go on."