CHAPTER XIX
THE SMOKE SIGNAL
When Jean awoke the next morning she was stiff and sore. She longed to stay there all day and rest. But Kitty informed her that they must move on at once, for not only were the slashers hot upon their trail, but that a storm was coming, and they would need better shelter than their rude brush lean-to could give. In a short time Sam returned and reported that their pursuers were floundering about in a valley several miles away. They had evidently lost the trail, and it would take them some time to find it again.
"Will they keep on following us?" Jean asked.
"A-ha-ha," Sam replied. "Stop bimeby, mebbe. See?" and he laid his hand upon his musket.
"Will you shoot them?"
"Mebbe. Bimeby."
"Oh, you mustn't!" and Jean shuddered. "That would be murder."
"White man kill Injun all sam' dog. Ugh!"
"Would they?"