“Well, there’s _one_ Injin, for I seen him. Come now,” he affirmed, as if the matter was now settled beyond a question. “Ah! that alters the case considerably. I shouldn’t wonder at all if there is one or a half-dozen savages in the forest.” “If you see _one_ savage haven’t you a right to suppose there’s a hundred more about, I should like to know?” “Not always, Nat; I have seen three myself, yet I do not believe there is another one in the neighborhood. But I have not heard the particulars of this affair of which you have been speaking. Please let me hear them.” “There isn’t much to tell, but there is enough to make you do a heap of thinking. You see, after you had left, I took a notion that I must have a morning ramble; and I thought, too, there might be such a thing as you two running into danger and needing my help (I should like to know what you are laughing at). So, on the whole, there was no hesitation upon my part. Taking my rifle out, I was soon making my way as noiselessly as possible, in a direction from the river. “I hadn’t gone more than a dozen yards before I commenced thinking about Injins, and came nigh going back again. I wasn’t afraid at all, you know, but then it appeared to me I might bring you and Biddon into trouble. However, I kept on. I had gone some distance further, when all of a sudden I heard a terrible whirr and rattle, and jumped clean off my feet. But it was only a big owl which I had stirred up. I was so provoked at the start he gave me, that I should have wrung his neck had I got my hands upon him. But I went on. Pretty soon I reached a little stream of water, and as I jumped across, what do you suppose I saw in the sand?” “I am sure I cannot tell.”