"Explain what you mean?" said Godfrey, with a thrill of hope.
"Afore you fired dat gun, and when eberyting was still, I heerd somebody talking out dare; dey kind ob whistled, like I's been doing, den I heerd whispers, and den de sound ob feet."
This was stirring news, indeed, to Fred. If it so proved that these strangers were white men, he might be able to rally them to the attack of Golcher and his Indian allies.
But, alas! if they should prove to be that portion of the band which withdrew a short time previous, their presence would settle forever all prospects of a rescue.
"How far off are they?" he asked.
"Only a short distance; foller me."
"Don't forget, Gravity," said the lieutenant, as he started with him, "that we're likely to run afoul of some of the Senecas, who are out hunting for me."
"I understand dat."
A few minutes later the African came to a stop, and said, in a husky undertone:
"Dis am de spot."