A great deal has been written about the shrewdness of redmen. They are
shrewd when their qualities are once fully aroused and they are on the
scent, but they are given to assumptions, the same as white men. Of
course Creedon was practically to be credited when he said that the
Indians assumed there had been a camp there and that the campers had
departed, but had they made as close observations as when on a trail
they would have made discoveries that would have suggested the near
presence of the late campers.
Creedon had as far as possible destroyed all signs when raking out the
fire of a recent encampment, but an experienced and alert eye can detect
the truth despite these little tricks.
Desmond saw the Indians: they were a hard-looking lot, the worst
specimens he had ever beheld, and they were assassins at sight, as he
determined. He was secure from observation, but it was necessary to warn
his comrades, who were in different crevices, and at that moment Creedon
actually snored. He was in the crevice adjoining the one where Desmond
had taken refuge.
The Indians were too far away to overhear the snore, but it was possible
the man might awake and step forth; then, as Desmond feared, the fight
would commence.
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