near, and we can get some fish. Oh,
those are their footprints, are they?" he said; and he turned and caught
the rifle from Esau. "That fellow had a fine broad foot of his own."

"Yes, he must have been a big man," I said, as I gazed down at the
plainly-marked sole and toes in the soft earth.

"Bigger than the one made by Robinson Crusoe's savage," whispered
Gunson. "There, get out the revolvers, and mind how you handle them.
Be ready to hand me one if I ask after I have fired."

"But you said the Indians were friendly."

"This tribe never is," replied Gunson, cocking the rifle and looking
sharply round. "They run away generally, but sometimes they show fight,
and we must be ready."

He looked carefully in every direction, and then signed to us to follow.

"He's gone straight on, just in the track we want to follow."

"Is there only one?" I whispered. "Only one, and it's very awkward,
for I was just thinking of making camp for the night."

"But we needn't be afraid of one Indian," said Esau, boldly.

"No," replied Gunson; "but we need be of one bear."

"Bear?" I said. "Those are a man's footsteps."

"Those are the prints of a very large bear, my lad," said Gunson; "and
judging from their appearance, I should say it's not very long since he
passed. Now then, what had we better do?"

I did not feel myself capable of advising, and I suppose Esau was no
more of an expert in bear, for he too was silent.

"Don't speak. Follow me; and as we go, hold your packs loosely so that
you can drop them in a moment and take to a tree."

"But bears climb trees," I whispered. "Not they," said Gunson. "Come
along." And with the shades of evening closing in fast in that wild
valley, we followed our companion as he went cautiously on, scanning
every bush and rock, not knowing how soon the savage beast, whose prints
continued right in the direction we seemed compelled to take, might rush
out and dispute the way.

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.

QUONG TAKES REFUGE.

Our way was the same as the bear's, for the simple reason that it was
the only open level part we could find on that side of the valley. To
our left, the rocks went up in huge, precipitous steps, and then went
down to the right to where the river foamed along a couple of hundred
feet below. And there, with the greatest regularity, were the great
footprints which had deceived me, pretty close beside a little stream
which trickled on along the level, til