il leads us right on them,
we'll be in a fix, old boy."

"Ay," replied Rube, in a low but significant drawl; "ef it do, an ef
this niggur don't a miskalkerlate, it _will_ lead right on 'em, _plum
straight custrut into thur camp_."

I started on hearing this. I could no longer remain silent; but
brushing rapidly forward to the side of the trapper, in hasty phrase
demanded his meaning.

"Jest what 'ee've heern me say, young fellur," was his reply.

"You think that there are Indians ahead? that the horse has gone to
their camp?"

"No, not _gone_ thur; nor kin I say for sartint thur ur Injuns ahead;
though it looks mighty like. Thur's nuthin else to guv reezun for the
fire--nuthin as Bill or me kin think o'; an ef thur be Injuns, then I
don't think the hoss hez _gone_ to thur camp, but I do kalkerlate it's
mighty like he's been _tuk_ thur: thet's what I thinks, young fellur."

"You mean that the Indians have captured him?"

"Thet's preezactly what this child means."

"But how? What reason have you for thinking so?"

"Wal--jest because I think so."

"Pray explain, Rube!" I said in an appealing tone. I feared that his
secretive instincts would get the better of him, and he would delay
giving his reasons, out of the pure love of mystification that was
inherent in the old fellow's nature. I was too anxious to be patient;
but my appeal proved successful.

"Wal, 'ee see, young fellur, the hoss must 'a crosst hyur jest afore
this paraira wur sot afire; an it's mighty reezunible to s'pose thet
whosomediver did the bizness, Injun or no Injun, must 'a been to win'ard
o' hyur. It ur also likely enuf, I reckun, thet the party must 'a seed
the hoss; an it ur likely agin thet nobody wa'nt a gwine to see _thet_
hoss, wi' the gurl stropped down 'long his hump-ribs, 'ithout bein'
kewrious enuf to take arter 'im. Injuns 'ud be safe to go arter 'im,
yellin' like blazes; an arter 'im they've gone, an roped 'im, I reckun--
thet they've done."

"You think they could have caught him?"

"Sartint. The hoss by then must 'a been dead beat--thet ur, unless he's
got the divvel in 'im; an by Geehorum! I gin to surspect--Gehu--
Gehosophat! jest as I said; lookee, thur--thur!"

"What is it?" I inquired, seeing the speaker suddenly halt and point to
the ground, upon which his eyes also were fixed. "What is it, Rube? I
can perceive nothing strange."

"Don't 'ee see 'em hoss-tracks?--thur!--thick as sheep-feet--hundreds o'
'e