Crossing the road, Jean began to circle until he came close to several cabins, around which he made a wide detour.

This took him to the edge of the slope, where brush and thickets afforded him a safe passage to a line directly back of Greaves's store.

Then he turned toward it.

Soon he was again approaching a cabin of that side, and some of its inmates descried him, Their actions attested to their alarm.

Jean half expected a shot from this quarter, such were his growing doubts, but he was mistaken.