“What does he mean by that, father?” said Perry.
“I can’t tell, my boy, unless he wants to show us that the other man is coming while we sleep.”
They tried again, but could get no farther. The Indian grew excited at last and voluble, making gestures too, pointing forward and then at the ground, ending by pointing at them in turn, throwing himself down and pretending to sleep.
“I give it up,” said the colonel, turning away towards the fire; “but we must try to learn their language as fast as we can, or we shall never get through our journey.”
A good meal near the fire, whose glow was comfortable enough up at the height they now were, and then father and son strolled a little way about their camp, the wood proving very attractive; but the darkness soon closed in, and they began to return toward the fire, which glowed brightly and cast the shadows of the Indians against the rock-wall as they sat prolonging their meal.
“What is John Manning doing eating with them?” said the colonel suddenly. “I told him he was to keep those men in their places. They are my paid servants while—”
“He’s over yonder,” said Perry, interrupting his father, “stacking guns together, I think.”
“Nonsense!” said the colonel; “there he is, sitting with the Indians, eating.”
“He can’t be, father; I can see him over there.”
“But look, boy, there are three shadows against the cliff.”