cing with the care and stealth of a trained Indian scout, Hazletine
remained but a short time near the break in the canyon, for suspecting,
as did Jack Dudley, that it was in that neighborhood the key to the
situation was to be found, he was exposing himself to discovery. He
climbed the same ascent, leaped the canyon, and ensconced himself on the
further side. His intention was to peer over the edge into the depths
below, instead of taking the course followed later by his young friend.

He was acting on this idea, when he came within a hair of spoiling
everything by committing the very blunder against which he had sought
with so much pains to guard. At his height above the torrent, as will be
remembered, no one was disturbed by the roar of the waters far below.
Because of his susceptibility to sounds, he heard an exclamation uttered
by some one near him. The point whence it came was a clump of rocks
hardly fifty feet distant, and he fancied he recognized the voice as
Bill Tozer's. To his relief he could see no one, and it was safe,
therefore, to assume that no one as yet saw him.

The ground was favorable, and by using the utmost care he secured a
position from which he discovered Tozer and Motoza in conversation. The
white man was sitting on a boulder, while the Sioux was standing in
front of him, gesticulating as if angry over something that had been
proposed or said. Tozer was smoking a pipe, and seemed cool and
collected, though the exclamation which had betrayed him indicated that
it had not been thus from the beginning.

It was an important discovery for Hazletine to make, but it was attended
by two exasperating facts: the interview was nearly over, and the words
that remained to be spoken were uttered in such moderate tones that he
could not hear a syllable. If the couple had been obliging enough to
raise their voices, it is probable that the knowledge sought by the
eavesdropper would have soon been at his command.

But nothing of that nature took place. Within five minutes after the
arrival of the cowman, prepared to act his part as spy, Motoza turned
about and walked away in the direction of the canyon, while Tozer took a
course which, if continued, would lead him to the plateau.

"I don't think he'll go there, fur he's no reason to look fur me in that
place afore to-morrer morning."

But the white man was not the important factor in the problem. Hank
waited for some minutes after he had passed from sight,