"It is only our guard," said the chief, as he recognized the intruder. "What is up, Blake? Anything wrong?"
"There are strangers in the valley!" replied the newcomer.
CHAPTER V.
CLOSE QUARTERS.
"Have we been found?" asked the four in the same breath.
"Not that I know of. The party that I meant seem to be a family stopped here for a rest, though I could not see anything of the men folks. They may be off gunning."
"If there is no danger, what did you alarm us for?" demanded the chief.
"I ain't through yet," replied the other, doggedly. "There is some one else in the valley besides them. Perhaps he came with them."
"Who is this other? Why don't you pack your ideas up together?"
"I ain't seen the chap himself," continued the man, in his deliberate way, "but the postboy of the Kanawha is somewhere around about these diggings."
Had a thunderbolt fallen among them the men could not have shown greater surprise.