“The foot of a horse is different from a buffalo’s,” said he, briefly, in answer to a question of Dave’s. “And if you keep a sharp eye on the trail, you’ll see the print of a horse every now and then, even among all the buffalo tracks.” All day they rode at a good pace; and by late in the afternoon they had covered some forty miles. The horses were jaded, and if they were to be kept fit to continue the trail the next day they must be rested and fed. There was a clump of trees near by their halting place which seemed an excellent spot for a camp. “We’ll take a rest here,” said Kit, “and have a snack. The nags can pick up a little green stuff, too, maybe.” Winter had come again, and the horses, from lack of herbage upon which to feed, were in poor condition. There was a promise of soft boughs and young bark in the grove; the trappers’ animals lived upon such fodder in the cold months, and the prospect made them as eager and restive for the camp as their riders. They were within a hundred yards of the timber when a sound caught their ears. There was a low command from Kit, and the trappers drew rein instantly. Again the sound came to them, a sharp yelp as of an animal in pain. “A dog,” said Kit; “and on the other side of the timber.” The presence of a dog in the wilderness is a positive indication of the presence of man at no great distance. There was not one of the seasoned trappers but knew this; and the minds of Dave and Joe seeing the effect upon their companion grasped the fact instantly. “Redskins!” said Kit Carson. “Look there.” Above the tree tops two towering columns of smoke were ascending; that a camp of some size existed among or upon the opposite side of the trees the whites were now convinced. [Illustration: “REDSKINS!”] “This way,” said Kit, as he turned his horse. Some little distance back, there was a rise in the ground; behind this he remembered to have seen a clump of timber something like that which had just been the object of their attention. Reaching the trees, they dismounted; the horses were tied and then Kit said quietly: “Boys, we don’t know what’s ahead of us; so the best thing is to have a look over the ground before we make another move. I’m going across this bit of prairie and have a look at that camp over there. It may be the band we are after, or it may not be. In an hour you’ll know. Anyhow, get yourselves ready for action, for we don’t know what may be the outcome.” He left them among the trees and advanced toward the timber from which the smoke was still ascending. The prairie was a rolling one; here and there cover was to be had; and Kit cautiously advanced from place to place, his woodcraft making him invisible for the greater part of the time from the grove ahead.