He peered and listened, then turned around on his knees and flattening his body on the ground began to creep toward the tree.

As soon as he reached its foot he rose to full height, leaned against the trunk, and glanced at the stars.

They indicated that it was past midnight, and Tyope felt uneasy.

In case he should be delayed, and reach the Rito after daylight, it might excite suspicions.

Yet his only safety lay in making a wide circuit.
The dismal yelping of a prairie wolf struck his ear, and to his alarm there was at once a reply near where the interview had taken place, but slightly to the east and more toward the deep gorge in which the Rio Grande flows.