"I am looking for the track of Jasper," Dick told him, as he continued to move this way and that, his eyes searching the ground as he neared the bank of the river. "But tell me how you would know his trail from any other? Most moccasins make pretty much the same kind of a mark, I've always believed." "Well, Williams's do not, it happens," the other explained. "I thought you must have noticed it as we came along. He bought the pair he is wearing from a Mandan squaw. They have a queer seam across the middle. I never saw one like it before, and I think that is the track now." He pointed to the ground, and Roger, looking, gave a cry of satisfaction. "It certainly is as you say, and here must be where Jasper jumped when he made for the water, and sprang into one of the dugouts. See, in many places his footprints are partly covered by those of the pursuing Blackfeet." "And this must be where he found the canoe into which he jumped," continued Dick, as he showed his companion a slight depression in the sand. Both stood and looked up the turbulent river. The water tumbled over the rocks that thrust their heads above the surface in many places; it even leaped high in the air and sent out clouds of spray where a cataract could be seen over toward the other shore. But whatever secret it held it gripped tightly, and neither of the boys could lift the veil. "I wish we knew what happened up there, and if Jasper did get away, or was taken by those plotting French traders and their red allies," mused Roger. "Well, it will do no good for us to stop here and wish," his companion told him. "There is work to be done, and the sooner we start the quicker we can reach the end. One thing is sure, if Jasper is alive, whether free or a prisoner, we will find him!" There was no need of lingering any longer, since they had learned all that could be ascertained. It fitted in with the story told by the two men who had been Jasper Williams's companions. "It seems to me our next best course would be to keep along the border of the river," remarked Dick. "If those who were in the canoes came ashore it would likely be on this side of the stream, because it seems to be a better channel than on the other side. "Besides, if we watch out we can see the marks left by those of the Blackfeet who ran along the shore expecting to head Jasper off; though I don't think they could do that, because in many places they would have to pass around deep coves that lead many rods inland." For some time they followed the river. Now and then they managed to discover some tracks of the Indians, but at the end these seemed to be missing, and it was concluded that the band must have left the stream to pass further back in the country.