The object was indistinct, but it looked like a man walking cautiously upon a ledge between the pools, and Thirlwell wondered what the fellow was doing there.

The big gray trout had stopped rising, there were no Indians about, and the miners had not left the camp.
Thirlwell waited until the man moved out from the gloom of the trees.
His figure was now distinct against the foam of the rapid, and he stooped as if he were looking down into a pool.

Then he moved on, and Thirlwell, noting that he would soon pass in front of a dark rock, resolved to change his place in order to watch him better.

Getting up, he went down to the water's edge, but came to a tangle of white branches that the river had thrown up.

As he stopped he saw the man plainly, but when he looked up after scrambling over the driftwood there was nobody about.
This was strange and excited his curiosity.