aim makes us feel
that we've been taken in and done for. But there goes Paul."

The scout leader was indeed moving off. Still bending low, and making
positive of every step, he kept advancing slowly but steadily. When
there was the least doubt he asked Wallace for his opinion; for two
heads sometimes prove better than one.

Presently they came to where the rocks began to stand out. Here the
difficulties increased at a surprising rate, for the impressions were
very faint indeed. Still Paul eagerly continued his labor, because there
was a fascination about it for him. He dearly loved to solve any puzzle,
no matter how bewildering; and in these dimly defined traces of a man's
upward progress he found that he had a problem worthy of his very best
efforts.

Sometimes the trail seemed utterly to have vanished. Indeed, Jud and
Bobolink again and again declared that it was useless trying to pursue
it any further. But Paul would not give up, and he had a good backer in
Wallace.

This time they would find a broken twig that had given way under
pressure. Then again it would be a stone overturned that caught their
eye. And a little later the proof of their reasoning was shown in a
clear imprint of the foot in a soft patch of earth.

Then the others would exchange glances of wonder, almost awe, and shake
their heads, as though they were of the opinion that such work was
bordering on magic. But Paul only used common-sense in his trailing,
calling to his aid all that he had ever read, heard or seen of the art.

"Hey, we're right above the camp, fellows!" exclaimed Bobolink
presently.

Raising his head Paul saw that what his companion said was true. But he
did not look surprised; for all along he had felt convinced that the
unknown must be making for some spot where he could obtain a good survey
of the little encampment without being observed by the sentries while
walking their beats.

Two minutes later the quartet found themselves on the brink of the
little shelf where Philip Towne, who had given up the pursuit some time
back, had, as he declared, seen a pair of yellow eyes during the night.

All of them peered over. The tents were not more than twenty-five feet
below. Indeed, that one which contained their supplies lay almost
directly under them.

The patrol leader seemed to be possessed of an idea. Perhaps it
originated in certain marks which he had discovered in the thin layer
of earth along the edge of the shelf.

"