on enough, though, to keep you from obsarving what we've been
talking about?"

"No; it is too plain to be mistaken."

"Did you ever see the smoke of a camp-fire act like that?"

"Never; have you?"

"Many a time; that's an Injin signal-fire."

This was interesting, but caused nothing in the nature of fear on the
part of the boys. It was Fred who remarked:

"The Indians must be signaling to some one."

"Exactly."

"It can't be to _us_?"

"Not much; it's to another party of Injins, and that other party is
calling back to 'em. See whether you can find t'other signal."

The boys moved the points of their glasses back and forth and up and
down, but it was not until their guide again pointed out the right spot
that they located the second signal. Indeed the vapor was so fine and
feathery that it was wonderful how Hank himself had been so quick to
note it.

The points were of about the same elevation, and separated by a distance
of some two miles. Peak and valley, gorge and canyon, rock and boulder
in profusion lay between. No doubt could remain that two parties of
Indians were telegraphing messages back and forth, and that they were
understood by each party.

As yet the boys failed to see that the matter was of any special concern
to them, though it was interesting to know that they were not the only
ones who were hunting in that section.

"I suppose," said Jack, "that the parties are from the reservation and
are signaling to each other about the game."

"That may be," replied Hank, after some hesitation, "but I ain't quite
sure _we_ ain't the game they're signaling 'bout."

"They wouldn't dare disturb us!" exclaimed Fred.

"Not in the open; but don't furgit what I obsarved to you some time ago
that an Injin, when he feels purty sartin of not being found out, ain't
to be trusted. Now, younkers, I may be all wrong, but if I am, nothing
won't be lost by acting as if I was right; whereas if I'm right and we
don't act that way, the mischief will be to pay."

"How shall we make sure?"

"By keeping our eyes open; when we're hunting fur game, look out that
some of the redskins ain't hunting fur us. I think that confounded
Motoza has a finger in this pie."

Without explaining further, the hunter rested the stock of his gun on
the ground and leaned upon it in profound meditation. He paid no
attention to his companions, but continued gazing in the direction of
the first signal-fire he had noticed, and was eviden