nce
which is the characteristic of the true man of the woods. The gentle
breeze blowing down the canyon brought to their ears the rustling of
the dry poplar-leaves and the faint murmur of the stream which, tumbling
down the canyon, accompanied the main trail a hundred yards away.

Suddenly Cameron's hand fell upon the knee of the half-breed with a
swift grip.

"Listen!" he said, bending forward.

With mouths slightly open and with hands to their ears they both sat
motionless, breathless, every nerve on strain. Gradually the dead
silence seemed to resolve itself into rhythmic waves of motion rather
than of sound--"TUM-ta-ta-TUM. TUM-ta-ta-TUM. TUM-ta-ta-TUM." It was
the throb of the Indian medicine-drum, which once heard can never be
forgotten or mistaken. Without a word to each other they rose, doused
their fire, cached their saddles, blankets and grub, and, taking only
their revolvers, set off up the canyon. Before they had gone many yards
Cameron halted.

"What do you think, Jerry?" he said. "I take it they have come in the
back way over the old Porcupine Trail."

Jerry grunted approval of the suggestion.

"Then we can go in from the canyon. It is hard going, but there is less
fear of detection. They are sure to be in the Big Wigwam."

Jerry shook his head, with a puzzled look on his face.

"Dunno me."

"That is where they are," said Cameron. "Come on! Only two miles from
here."

Steadily the throb of the medicine-drum grew more distinct as they moved
slowly up the canyon, rising and falling upon the breeze that came down
through the darkness to meet them. The trail, which was bad enough in
the light, became exceedingly dangerous and difficult in the blackness
of the night. On they struggled painfully, now clinging to the sides of
the gorge, now mounting up over a hill and again descending to the level
of the foaming stream.

"Will they have sentries out, I wonder?" whispered Cameron in Jerry's
ear.

"No--beeg medicine going on--no sentry."

"All right, then, we will walk straight in on them."

"What you do?" inquired Jerry.

"We will see what they are doing and send them about their business,"
said Cameron shortly.

"No," said Jerry firmly. "S'pose Indian mak beeg medicine--bes' leave
him go till morning."

"Well, Jerry, we will take a look at them at any rate," said Cameron.
"But if they are fooling around with any rebellion nonsense I am going
to step in and stop it."

"No," said Jerry aga