“Why, sir, do you see this mark here?” said Malachi, pointing to the one lowest down on the piece of bark.
“Yes; it is a foot, is it not?”
“Exactly, sir; now, do you know whom it comes from?”
“I can’t say I do.”
“Do you remember two winters back our picking up the Indian woman, and carrying her to the house, and your father curing her sprained ankle?”
“Certainly; is it from her?”
“Yes, sir; and you recollect she said that she belonged to the band which followed the Angry Snake.”
“I remember it very well; but now, Malachi, read me the letter at once, for I am very impatient to know what she can have to say.”
“I will, Mr Alfred; now, sir, there is the sun more than half up, which with them points out it is the setting and not the rising sun; the setting sun therefore means to the westward.”
“Very good, that is plain, I think.”