This gave him an opportunity to count the combatants. They had no tents, and beyond the mumbling sounds of the talkers, there was nothing to attract attention. There were no captives in sight, and only twice during the time he was in close view of the camp, did any warriors come in, or others go out.
During this period, however, he had gained sufficient knowledge to ascertain that they had only four sets of pickets, and all of them disposed in the direction of the wagon, or to the northwest.
This was certainly a curious thing, and something he could not understand at the time. He debated the subject in his mind for some time, and then as quietly made his way back to George.
“That is the most peculiar way of picketing, to guard only one side of the camp. Let us go eastwardly and try to pick up some information from that quarter.”
They worked their way through the brush for a quarter of a mile when John pointed to the south. “This is the direction to take. Guard the movement of every foot now, and stop the moment you see my hand go up.”
The way now led up a perceptible elevation, which could not really be called a hill, but it was a slope, thickly wooded, and with considerably less underbrush than in the lower ground. The trees were not large, however, and the absence of the vegetation enabled them to see a much greater distance, and thus made the work easier, and enabled a much more rapid pace.
CHAPTER VII
JOHN AND STUT RESCUING THREE CAPTIVES
John stopped suddenly, and held up a hand, without saying a word. Then, slowly turning around, whispered: “Do you see the light beyond?” and he pointed to the southeast.
“Yes; I see several. I wonder if that can be their village?”
“That explains the matter that troubled me, in one respect only—ah! I am satisfied now.” And George looked to the southwest in the direction indicated.