For some time the Indian kept his eyes upon the ground, without exhibiting any apparent interest in the tracks. And yet he appeared to be tracing them: perhaps only in obedience to a habit learnt, and indulged in, from earliest childhood.
After a while, his glance wandered to a wider range; and something, observed at a few paces distance, appeared more seriously to engage his attention.
His statuesque attitude became at once disarranged; and, gliding down from the steps, he walked rapidly along the gravelled walk, leading to the left side of the house.
On arriving at the angle of the wall, he stooped downward—as if to examine some object at his feet.
After remaining motionless for a few seconds, he continued on—still with body bent—towards the back part of the dwelling.
He proceeded slowly, but without making a stop—till he had arrived near the rear of the mansion. There a narrow doorway, opening into the eastern wing, was before his eyes; and into this he stood gazing—evidently in some surprise. It could not be at seeing the door: for he knew of it already. It was its being open that elicited that look of astonishment.
During his stay at Stone Dean he had never known that side door to be otherwise than shut, and locked too. As there was only himself, and his master, who had the right to unlock it, he was naturally surprised at finding it ajar.
He might not have heeded the circumstance but for another, which seemed to connect itself with the open door. He had observed the footprints of two men, plainly impressed in the damp dust. They ran all along the wall, parallel to, and a few paces from it. Near the angle of the building, they were joined by a third set of footmarks; and from that point the three proceeded together till lost among the horse-tracks around the entrance in front.
It was these footmarks that had first attracted the Indian from his stand upon the steps; and, in tracing them, he had been conducted to the side doorway.
To examine the tracks, either of man or animal, and wherever seen, is a habit—indeed almost an instinct—with an Indian; and, ruled by this peculiarity of his people, Oriole had hastened to scrutinise the “sign.”