It would be difficult for anybody to follow it without making some noise, but although he stopped and listened no sound came out of the gloom.
He went on, pondering the matter with some curiosity.

Since the miners were in camp, he imagined the man he had seen was Driscoll, who lived alone in a log shack near the bank.

But, if this were so, what was Driscoll's object for wading among the reefs, and why had he stolen away when he thought he was watched?
Thirlwell could not solve the puzzle, but he could find out if the fellow were Driscoll or not, because the trail passed his shack.
He walked faster, making as little noise as possible, and by and by reached a belt of thinner forest.

He passed a fallen pine, from which he knew the shack was visible in daylight, and resolved to see if Driscoll was at home.

If not, Thirlwell thought it would be safe to conclude that he had seen him among the reefs.