Bob resumed his former position and kept his eyes on the man. He was standing on the highest peak of the range on a huge rock which raised itself ten feet or more from the earth. Evidently he was watching for a signal of some kind for he shaded his eyes as he scanned the lower regions on all sides. For nearly a half hour he stood there like a statue save for the slight movement of his head as he slowly turned it. Then, suddenly, as if he had found that for which he was looking, he jumped to the ground and quickly kindled a small fire at the base of the rock. When it was burning brightly he threw on some damp leaves causing a dense cloud of smoke to arise. This he smothered with a small blanket for an instant Then he drew the blanket aside allowing a puff of the smoke to ascent like a toy balloon.
“He’s signaling someone Indian fashion,” Bob whispered.
“Guess your hunch is working,” Jack whispered back.
“Wouldn’t wonder. Now if we could only see if he gets and answer and where it comes from we might learn something that would help.”
But from where they lay they could see none of the surrounding country and they did not dare to move from their position.
“It’s a cinch that it’s somewhere round here that they bring the stuff over anyhow. We’ve learned that much if nothing more,” Bob declared.
“No doubt about that,” Jack agreed.
The man continued to signal for fifteen or twenty minutes but whether or not he received an answer the boys could only guess. Finally, however, he seemed to be satisfied and after carefully extinguishing the fire he started off down the opposite side of the mountain.
CHAPTER VIII
BIG MOSQUITOES.