“We best make the sleeping quarters, Mike,” Wilder said after awhile. “They’re liable to tell us the last thing we need to know.” And he passed round the room in search of an outlet which might lead to the apartments above.
Wilder flung the curtains quickly aside. It was an arched entrance to one of the upper rooms. He stepped within the room closely followed by Mike, and they stood silently regarding the interior with appraising eyes.
Here again there was no occupant. It was a bedroom, and, judging by its proportions, the principal bedroom. As it had been in the hall below the furnishings were largely of Eastern fashion. But a modern, Western bedstead occupied the central place, and a bureau dressing-chest stood near to a window. For the rest there were silken curtains of lavish wistaria and chrysanthemum design hanging at the windows, and the floor of yellow pine was covered with Eastern, tufted rugs.
But the furnishings and decorations of this far hidden home no longer pre-occupied Wilder. He had discovered the thing he wanted in the modern bed and the faint, rather noxious odour which human occupation leaves behind it for senses sufficiently acute. The bed was unmade. It was in the condition left by a person who has just arisen from it. But he also realised that not one but two persons had been its last occupants. This in itself was illuminating, but not nearly so enlightening as the prevailing odour of the room. That curious human odour had been instantly recognised. And Wilder knew it had no relation to beings of his own race. Again the name of the sons of Nippon flashed through his mind, and a deep satisfaction warmed him as he remembered that after all it looked as though he would not have to return entirely empty-handed to his friend, George Raymes.
He turned sharply to his companion who had lost interest under his chief’s silence.
“Guess I’ve seen all I need,” he said, while his eyes continued to regard the bedstead. “We’ll get right back to the landing.” He thrust back his cap from his broad forehead and turned towards the window which looked out to the south. “Yes, we’ll get right back. This darn place is not deserted. There are folks around. That being so there’s just one thing worrying. It’s the safety of our canoe, and our outfit. So we’ll get along, and you and Chilcoot will have to share guard on the outfit between you.”
Mike’s blue eyes lit. The thing his chief suggested restored hope to his fighting spirit.
“If ther’s folk around—an’ I guess you’re right—we’re liable to— Say, what’s your play, boss, with us two standin’ by the outfit?”
Wilder’s gaze came back from the window. He had only looked out upon what seemed to be unbroken forest. He shrugged. And a half smile lit his eyes.