He wanted to think and think of the meaning, but he resolutely dispelled emotion.
His imperative need at present was to find a safe retreat, and this called for action.
So he set out.

It still wanted several hours before dark.

This trip he turned to the left and wended his skulking way southward a mile or more to the opening of the valley, where lay the strange scrawled rocks.

He did not, however, venture boldly out into the open sage, but clung to the right-hand wall and went along that till its perpendicular line broke into the long incline of bare stone.
Before proceeding farther he halted, studying the strange character of this slope and realizing that a moving black object could be seen far against such background.

Before him ascended a gradual swell of smooth stone.