It's there--without a doubt!" Both Indians went with him to the edge of the water.
"The creek widens here until it is very shallow," said Wabi.

"I don't believe that it is more than four feet deep out there in the middle.
What do you say--" He paused as he saw Mukoki slip back to the dead stub again, then went on, "What do you say to making a trip to the canoe after grub for our dinner, and the pans ?" The first flash of enthusiasm that had filled Wabigoon on reading the paper discovered by Rod was quickly passing away, and the white youth could not but notice the change which came over both Mukoki and his young friend when they stood once more beside the smooth white stub that reached up to the floor of the chasm above.

He controlled his own enthusiasm enough to inspect more closely the dead tree which had affected them so strangely.

The discovery he made fairly startled him.
The surface of the stub was not only smooth and free of limbs, but was polished until it shone with the reflecting luster of a waxed pillar! For a moment he forgot the paper which he held in his hand, forgot the old cabin, and the nearness of gold.

In blank wonder he stared at Mukoki, and the old Indian shrugged his shoulders.
"Ver' nice an' smooth!" "Ver' dam' smooth!" emphasized Wabi, without a suggestion of humor in his voice.
"What does it mean ?" asked Rod.
"It means," continued Wabigoon, "that this old stub has for a good many years been used! by something as a sort of stairway in and out of this chasm! Now if it were a bear, there would be claw marks.