A person watching the old warrior would have said that he was keenly on the alert for game, or danger.

And yet the safety of his rifle was locked, a fresh trail of bear aroused no new interest in him, and when he heard a crashing in the brush on his right, where a buck had got wind of him, he gave but a single glance in its direction.

He was not seeking game.

Nor were his fears aroused by suspicion of possible danger.

Wherever the ground was soft and moist he traveled slowly, with his eyes on the earth, and at one of these spots he came to a sudden pause.