When, however, he told them what he had discovered, their hearts filled with joy, and they sprang to their feet ready to follow him.

Still they entertained a lurking fear that the smoke might mark the bivouac of some savages who had watched their movements during the day, and lighted this fire to cook the evening meal.
They followed the stream about two miles up the ravine, picking their way over rocks and through a thick wood, until they came to a little gurgling brook, cutting its way through a deep dell running at right angles with the ravine.

Here they rested for a short time, and carefully surveyed the scene, excited by strange thoughts.

A light suddenly flashed from the opposite bank, not more than forty yards ahead.

This evidently marked the object of their search.