She paused abruptly, sprang to her feet, and pointed excitedly to the high hill.
"See! See!" she cried. "Pu-kut! Pu-kut!"
Jean hastened to her side, and her eyes followed the woman's outstretched arm. Up on the dazzling, sun-crowned peak a wreath of smoke was ascending beyond the tops of the highest trees. It rose straight into the air like a tall shaft ere it spread and fell in wavy, fairy-like curls, and slowly disappeared from view.
"What is it?" the girl asked, feeling certain that it meant something important.
"Slashers come," Kitty explained. "Sam call Injun."
"Now I understand," Jean replied, while a great fear smote her heart.
"The slashers are near, and Sam wants help; is that it?"
"A-ha-ha. Smoke call Injun."
"Will the Indians see it?"
"A-ha-ha."
"Will they know what it means?"