ly he took the raven tress between
his fingers, his deep-set eyes glaring like red coals of fire. It was
a strand of Minnetaki's beautiful hair, not for a moment did one of
them doubt that; but what held them most, what increased the horror in
their eyes, was the quantity of it! Suddenly Mukoki gave it a gentle
pull and the tress slipped free of the twig.

In the next breath he uttered the only expression of supreme disgust
in his vocabulary a long-drawn, hissing sound which he used only in
those moments when his command of English was entirely inadequate to
the situation.

"Minnetaki on other sledge!"

He showed the end of the strand to his young companions.

"See--hair been cut! No pulled out by, twig. Woonga hang heem
there--make us think wrong."

He waited for no reply, but darted back to the other trail, with Wabi
and Rod close behind him. A quarter of a mile farther on the old
pathfinder paused and pointed in exultant silence at a tiny footprint
close beside the path of the sledge. At almost regular intervals now
there appeared this sign of Minnetaki's moccasin. Her two guards were
running ahead of the sledge, and it was apparent to the pursuers that
Wabi's sister was taking advantage of her opportunities to leave these
signs behind for those whom she knew would make an attempt at her
rescue. And yet, as they left farther and farther behind them the
trail which ran into the northeast, an inexplicable feeling of
uneasiness began to steal over Rod. What if Mukoki had made a mistake?
His confidence in the old warrior's judgment and sagacity was usually
absolute, but it occurred to him, like an ugly humor to stir up his
fears, that if the Woongas could cut off a bit of the girl's hair they
could also take off one of her shoes! Several times he was on the
point of giving audible voice to his suspicions but refrained from
doing so when he saw the assurance with which both Wabi and Mukoki
followed the trail.

Finally he could hold himself no longer.

"Wabi, I'm going back," he cried softly, forging alongside his
companion. "I'm going back and follow the other trail. If I don't find
anything in a mile or so I'll return on the double-quick and overtake
you!"

Wabi's efforts to dissuade him were futile, and a few minutes later
Rod was again at the clearing. What presentiment was it that caused
his heart to beat faster and his breath to come in tense excitement as
he stole through the bushes where they had found t