“My peoples, maybe so,” said Skookie.
“Your peoples? Why, I thought you said no one lived over on this side. And we’ve seen no signs of hunting here anywhere.”
Skookie went on to explain. “S’pose my peoples hunt. Kill big bear. Some mans take hide, some mans take meat, some mans take head. Dis head not good for eat, but very much heavy. Some mans get tired, lay it down here; maybe so birds eat-um all up but bone.”
“But how long ago did all this happen, Skookie?” asked John.
“I dinno.”
“And where did the hunters come from?” asked Rob.
“I dinno. Maybe so Eagle Harbor, maybe so Old Harbor.”
“Which way is Old Harbor, Skookie?” asked Rob, suddenly.
The lad pointed back across the mountains, beyond the bay, and beyond their camp on the farther side. “Plenty far,” he said.
“Then which way is Eagle Harbor—I suppose you mean a native village.”