But during these last months of unrest it was suspected by the Police that the ancient uses of these caves had been revived and that the rites long since fallen into desuetude were once more being practised.
For the first few miles of the canyon the trail offered good footing and easy going, but as the gorge deepened and narrowed the difficulties increased until riding became impossible, and only by the most strenuous efforts on the part of both men and beasts could any advance be made.
And so through the day and into the late evening they toiled on, ever alert for sight or sound of the Piegan band.

At length Cameron broke the silence.
"We must camp, Jerry," he said.

"We are making no time and we may spoil things.

I know a good camp-ground near by." "Me too," grunted Jerry, who was as tired as his wiry frame ever allowed him to become.
They took a trail leading eastward, which to all eyes but those familiar with it would have been invisible, for a hundred yards or so and came to the bed of a dry stream which issued from between two great rocks.
Behind one of these rocks there opened out a grassy plot a few yards square, and beyond the grass a little lifted platform of rock against a sheer cliff.

Here they camped, picketing their horses on the grass and cooking their supper upon the platform of rock over a tiny fire of dry twigs, for the wind was blowing down the canyon and they knew that they could cook their meal and have their smoke without fear of detection.
For some time after supper they sat smoking in that absolute silence which is the characteristic of the true man of the woods.