in that elevated
region. The boys began to feel impatient to be moving. A good many days
yet remained to them, but they were all too few to satisfy their longing
for the inspiriting life they had entered upon with so much zest.

As the three stood, the backs of Jack and Fred were toward the cavern,
in which the fire had been burning, while the hunter faced them. He now
turned and looked off over the wild, precipitous mountains by which they
were surrounded. The youths, who were observing him, saw him fix his
eyes on a point to the right, at which he gazed so long and steadily
that it was evident he had discovered something of more than usual
interest. Following the same direction they looked keenly, but were
unable to detect anything out of the ordinary.

Despite his own fixity of gaze, Hank noted what they were doing, and
turning abruptly toward them, asked:

"Do you obsarve anything 'tic'lar?"

"Nothing more than what we have seen," replied Jack. "There are the
mountain peaks, most of them reaching above the snow-line; the dark
masses below; the scrubby pines, with more abundant vegetation, still
further down."

"Do you see that crag that juts out from the side of the lower part of
that peak?" asked Hank, extending his hand in the direction indicated.

Thus aided, both boys looked at the exact spot. It was below the
snow-line, where only a few of the rocks showed, because of the numerous
pines which grew luxuriantly; but, keen as was their eyesight, they were
unable to detect the first sign of moving thing or life.

"Try your glasses on it," said Hank.

The boys brought the instruments round in front and levelled them at the
point of interest. As they did so they made a discovery. From the very
centre of the clump of wood rose a thin, shadowy line of vapor, which
was dissolved in the clear air before it ascended more than a few feet
above the tree-tops.

"So you obsarve it at last," said the hunter, after they had told what
they saw. "Wal, now study it closer, and tell me if you notice anything
queer 'bout the same."

Wondering what he could mean, they did as he requested. A minute later
Fred said:

"The smoke does not ascend steadily; first it shows plainly, then there
is none, and then it shows again."

"Seems to keep it up, eh?"

"Yes, like the puffs from the smoke-stack of a locomotive, only they are
a great deal slower," explained Jack; "but the smoke soon dissolves in
the clear air."

"Not so