The afternoon was well along, and some of the party had eaten nothing since early morning. All were hungry, but though there was a substantial lunch in the packs carried by the horses, no one spoke of it. They were too desirous of getting forward while the opportunity was theirs, to pay any attention to their appetites.
They had not yet reached the torrent, which was now close at hand, when Red Crow halted the animals and said to the pioneer:
"Wait here—Arqu-wao go ahead—won't stay long—want to see."
Mr. Edwards bowed his head, signifying that it should be as he wished, and the Shawanoe was off in a twinkling before Kenton, who was hardly out of sight to the rear, could come up. He soon appeared, and inquired what had taken place.
"Thar's trouble," was his emphatic comment.
"How can you know that?" asked the pioneer, with slight impatience; "you haven't seen anything."
"We're not far from where the younkers had the row yesterday; the lake isn't more'n half a mile up stream, and the reg'lar trail ain't that fur off in t'other direction."
"Don't you think Red Crow is acting wisely?"
"No one could do as well. It ain't that; but I told you we wouldn't reach the settlement without a rumpus. He means to take us across the gorge. The other varmints may not know the course we've took, but they'll be smart enough to 'spect that we'll try to cross at this spot, and some of 'em will be on the watch thar as sure as you're born. Wait hyar whar you be till I go ahead and larn how things stand. I think Red Crow is likely to need me."
The words proved true sooner than the sagacious scout suspected.