SUDDENLY Red Feather stopped. Melville did the same, wondering what the cause could be.
The youth stood so near that he saw the chief was looking to the right, as though he had heard a suspicious sound or saw something in that direction. The lad gave close attention, since he could detect nothing.
The Indian resumed his walk more slowly than before, but did not utter a word. His glances, however, to one side showed he was not free from misgiving, and by-and-by he stopped walking and listened intently as before.
"What is it?" asked Melville, giving way to his curiosity.
"Me hear something," was the reply, the Indian going still slower.
"I can't detect anything," said the lad, as though the fact ought to lighten the fears of the other.
Red Feather now tenderly placed Dot on her feet. The little one was half asleep, and rubbed her eyes after the manner of children when disturbed.
A whispered word from her brother kept her quiet, and, kneeling down, Red Feather pressed his ear to the ground, holding it there for a full minute. Then he raised his head a few inches, looked off into the darkness, placed the side of his face against the ground for a few seconds more, after which he rose to his feet.
Instead of explaining, he turned to Melville.
"You see Red Feather do—you do same as him."