In a Circle

"They may be Zitner and Burwink."

"Not likely, but if they come to our fire we shall soon find out.
Look!"

To their astonishment, the little fire which they had left only a
few minutes before burned up brightly, showing that a lot of fuel
had been thrown on it.

Too many trees and too much undergrowth obtruded for them to detect
anything more than the great increase in brightness.

"The darkness will prevent their following our footprints," whispered
the mother.

"I will go a little nearer and find out what it means: it may be,
after all, that they are friends."

"Be careful, my son."

"I will."

It was not a hard task Ben Ripley gave himself. He had not far to
go, and he proceeded with so much caution that no risk was involved.
Only half the distance was passed when he gained a full view of
the camp fire and its surroundings.

The sight was disquieting. Three Indian warriors were there. One
had been gathering dry sticks which he flung on the blaze; another
was helping himself to what was left of the cooked turkey; while
the third, bent low, moved slowly around the lit up portion of the
ground with his eyes fixed on it.

It was plain he was scrutinizing the footprints made by the party
that had left just in time to escape them. It was a fortunate
discovery made by Linna!

With the aid of the bright glare, it could not take him long to
identify the little party as fugitives fleeing eastward, though
it may be questioned whether they learned that it consisted of one
large boy, an adult woman, and two small children.