they
imagined might be caused by a camp-fire.

Whatever it was that attracted the attention of Shasta he took but a few
moments to decide regarding it. Going again to his canoe, he entered it
without a word or sign, and paddled away at his swiftest rate straight
toward it, while his companions watched the proceeding with as much
interest as in the preceding case.

The camp appeared fully a half-mile distant, and it took but a short
time for the Indian to reach a point opposite, when he sprung lightly
ashore and disappeared with his usual celerity.

"He is cautious," remarked Elwood. "He doesn't wish us to undertake to
pass it unless he is sure there will be no trouble."

"A sinsible young man!" asserted Tim. "His parents have the best raison
for faaling proud of so promising a young gintleman."

"And so have we."

A few moments elapsed, when the Pah Utah reappeared and came back as
rapidly as he went.

The first thing he did upon reaching the island was again to fasten the
boats together, and then motion to the three to enter. This, of course,
they did without delay, and took their usual positions.

But Shasta was not satisfied. He told them, in his manner, to lie down;
and not until the three had so arranged themselves as to be invisible
from both shores, did he dip his paddle and resume his journey.

"This means danger," said Elwood. "He doesn't wish any one to know we
are in the boats."

"And we must be sure and obey him."

"It's aisy doing, as my brother used to say whin his wife tould him, in
her gintle manner, by the help of her broomstick, to go to bed."

"And, Elwood, you are close to Terror, see that he doesn't let his
curiosity got the better of his judgment."

The Pah Utah was satisfied, and now began plying his paddle. It was
difficult for the three so to govern their curiosity as not to peep over
the side of the canoe; but there were good reasons for their not doing
so, and they scarcely moved a limb for the next hour.

They had gone but a little way when Terror raised his head and uttered a
slight bark; but a word from Elwood quieted him. Finally, Shasta paused
and uttered a guttural sound in his own tongue, which was taken as
permission for them to rise.

As they did so, they looked behind. The dim smoke ascending in the
summer sky was seen far behind, and between it and them the Salinas made
another bend, so that they had no cause to fear observation from that
party at least.

Shasta