“Well?” grinned Tad.
“Ashes warm. Haven’t been away from here very long.”
“Great!” cried the boys.
“You are a wonder,” nodded Butler approvingly. “But you all missed the other one.”
“The other what?” demanded Ned.
“The other campfire. There was another right near where we camped last night. In that case the ashes were cold. The travelers haven’t made as much progress to-day as I should have thought they would, and it looks to me as though they thought they were moving rather too rapidly and had slowed down a little. What do you say, Anvik?”
“Huh!” grunted the Indian, which Tad interpreted as meaning that he was right.
The Professor was much interested in the discovery, and asked Tad and Anvik many questions about the earlier discovery. Still, there was not much to be learned. A stranger in this wild place was something to attract the attention and cause speculation and discussion, so during the rest hour they talked of little 166else. Tad thought they would come up with the two strangers, but the guide shook his head.
“Him go north. Anvik go northwest. No see.”
“We shall see by to-morrow. I have an idea that we are going to catch up with our friends before we get across the mountains,” averred Tad confidently.