intervals they spoke, for there was no call to do so, and it was not
wise to allow any cause to interfere with their watchfulness for the
peril which was liable to come with the suddenness of the thunderbolt.

By stepping carefully they were able to proceed without noise, and, at
the same time, hoped to catch the sound of any other footsteps, since
there was not supposed to be any call on the part of the natives for
the caution which they might have displayed under different
circumstances.

The young man's heart gave a quicker throb than usual when he caught
the sound of something like a shout, and observed a faint light in the
path in front. It was apparent that the latter made an abrupt turn,
and the cause of the noise was but a brief distance beyond.

Fred reached back his hand and touched his companion, as a warning for
the most extreme care on his part, but the admonition was not needed.
Johnston understood the situation too well.

Sure enough, less than a couple of rods further, and the path turned
almost at right angles. Passing guardedly around this, the explorers
came upon a striking scene.

There was an open space with an area of perhaps three or four acres; it
was as clear of trees as a stretch of western prairie. It was
triangular in shape, the boundary being so regular that there could be
no doubt it was artificially made.

Around three sides of this space were erected huts or cabins, the
excellence and similarity or their structure suggesting that the