“It will be a big white object for our guidance on our way back.”
Griggs shook his head and smiled.
“We shall take our bearings, and be able to find our camp again. The water here will do for one big mark when we’re yonder on the hills. If you set up that tent with no one to mind it, the mules won’t be long before they come rubbing themselves against the ropes and upsetting it, for one thing. Another is, that if a roving band of mounted Indians came along they’d be down upon it at once to see what there was worth taking.”
“But surely there are no mounted Indians about here?” said Ned eagerly.
“Maybe no, maybe yes, my lad. I don’t know that there are, and I don’t know that there aren’t. Here’s plenty of room for them, and a nice country where there’s water and perhaps game. Likely enough there may be Indians. For they’re here to-day and a hundred miles off to-morrow, roving about in search of eatables.”
“Yes,” said the doctor gravely, “and the thought of the life they lead is encouraging to me.”
“Encouraging?” cried Bourne and Wilton together.
“Certainly. I have been a good deal exercised in my mind about the failing of our provisions forcing us at last to turn back, but if we follow the example of the Indians there is no reason why we, so long as we have sufficient ammunition, should not be able to keep on for years if it were necessary. What one band can do, surely another can.”
“That’s what you think, then, is it, sir?” said Griggs sharply.
“Yes; why do you speak like that?”