"Pehansan speaks well," said Roka.
Then they left the river bed and, bearing away toward the west, approached the gorge which Will could now see was very deep, and with a comparatively easy slope. He had an idea that many of the great carnivora came into the valley by this road, but he did not speak of it to the other two.
About an hour after noon they came to the edge of the forest and Pehansan, searching in the snow, found large tracks which were evidently those of hoofs.
"Elk?" said Will, "and a big one, too, I suppose."
"No," replied Pehansan, "not elk. Something bigger."
"What can it be? Moose, then?"
"No, not moose. Bigger still!"
"I give it up. What is it?"
"A mountain buffalo, a bigger beast than those we find in the great herds on the plains, which you know, Waditaka, are very big, too."
"Then this giant is ours. He has come in here for food and shelter, and we ought not to have much trouble in finding him. Lead on, Pehansan, and I'll get a chance to use this grand bow sooner than I had thought."