Natalie drew a long breath and plunged forthwith into elaborate, excited descriptions.
Their respite was very short—only to the middle of the following morning. They were still dwelling on the subject of home. Garth had carefully lifted Natalie into the saddle; and was leading the horse up and down the strip of grass to see how she bore it. Suddenly she bent her head, and laid a hand on his shoulder.
"Horses!" she said.
Garth sharply pulled up old Cy. "The Indian cayuses, perhaps," he said.
Natalie shook her head. "Heavier animals than that," she said. "And more like the steady trot of ridden horses!"
They listened with strained attention; and presently the pound of hoofs was clearly audible returning on the same trail through the woods of the lake shore. The approach of strangers is charged with a tremendous significance to those immured in a wilderness. They bated their breaths to hear better.
Garth scowled. "If they come back they can starve!" he said shortly. "They'll not get another stiver's worth from our store!"
Natalie's ears were very sharp. "There are more than two!" she said suddenly. "Four—six—more than that!"
Garth's face cleared. "Friends, undoubtedly," he said. "Mabyn could never enlist anybody, not even breeds, against us!"