"Merely sitting upon his horse at the top of the trail. But he vanished just as soon as I glimpsed him."
"An' the bear was gone, too, did ye say?"
"Yes; nothing left of it. I suppose the Indians came for it. Perhaps
Glen was with them, and so I missed another chance of seeing her."
During this conversation Frontier Samson had been standing. But now he sat down upon the ground, and remained for some time in deep thought. He filled and lighted his pipe, and smoked in silence, while Reynolds continued his work upon the sketch.
"When d'ye expect to leave camp?" Samson at length asked.
But Reynolds made no reply. He went on steadily with his work, while the old man watched him with twinkling eyes.
"Completely gone," he mused. "Deaf to the world. Can't hear nuthin'.
It's a sure sign."
"What's that? Were you speaking?" Reynolds suddenly asked.
"Speakin'! Sure. Why, me tongue's been goin' like a mill-clapper, though ye never heard a word I said."
"I was lost, I guess," and Reynolds smiled as he turned toward the sketch.