"Perhaps I have. Who knows? At any rate, don't you see it means we
are going to meet some human beings at last? We haven't seen one,
outside of our own party, in several days, though we have good reason
for thinking that one or more has been near us."

"Smoke, smoke?" queried the Professor. "Where?"

"There, to the southwest."

"That's so, it is smoke. It surely is."

"Must be somebody's camp-fire," decided Tad, studying the wisps of
vapor that were curling lazily up on the clear, warm morning air.

"Indeed, it must be," declared the Professor. "We must get in touch
with them at once, for they no doubt will soon be on their way. We
have not a minute to lose."

The Professor began bustling about excitedly.

"It will be an hour or more before we can hope to get there with our
old local freight train," objected Ned. "They probably will be gone
long before that."

"Yes. I have it," cried the Professor. "I will hurry over there on
my pony. You boys come along at your leisure. Even if they do not
wish to wait for the rest of our party, I shall be able to get
directions at least, and perhaps to hire some one to pilot us on to
the Red Star."