eat pine blazed, and
then died away until it was only a smoldering tower of light. Still
Mukoki gazed, speechless and grim, out into the distance of the night.
At last Wabi broke the silence.

"How far away is it, Muky?"

"T'ree mile," answered the old warrior without hesitation.

"We could make it in forty minutes."

"Yes."

Wabi turned to Rod.

"You can find your way back to camp alone, can't you?" he asked.

"Not if you're going over there!" declared the white boy. "I'm going
with you."

Mukoki broke in upon them with a harsh disappointed laugh.

"No go. No go over there." He spoke with emphasis, and shook his head.
"We lose pine in five minutes. No find Woonga camp--make big trail for
Woongas to see in morning. Better wait. Follow um trail in day, then
shoot!"

Rod found immense relief in the old Indian's decision. He did not fear a
fight; in fact, he was a little too anxious to meet the outlaws who had
stolen his gun, now that they had determined upon opening fire on sight.
But in this instance he was possessed of the cooler judgment of his
race. He believed that as yet the Woongas were not aware of their
presence in this region, and that there was still a large possibility of
the renegades traveling northward beyond their trapping sphere. He hoped
that this would be the case, in spite of his desire to recapture his
gun. A scrimmage with the Woongas just now would spoil the plans he had
made for discovering gold.

The "Skeleton Mine," as he had come to call it, now absorbed his
thoughts beyond everything else. He felt confident that he would
discover the lost treasure ground if given time, and he was just as
confident that if war was once begun between themselves and the Woongas
it would mean disaster or quick flight from the country. Even Wabi,
worked up more in battle enthusiasm than by gold fever, conceded that if
half of the Woongas were in this country they were much too powerful for
them to cope with successfully, especially as one of them was without a
rifle.

It was therefore with inward exultation that Rod saw the project of
attack dropped and Mukoki and Wabigoon proceed with their short task of
scalping the seven wolves. During this operation Wolf was allowed to
feast upon the carcass of the buck.

That night there was but little sleep in the old cabin. It was two
o'clock when the hunters arrived in camp and from that hour until nearly
four they sat about the hot stove making plans for t