"It's time to go!" He tried to suppress his nervousness when Mukoki and Wabi joined him beside the fire.

He determined not to let them know of his visions, for there was gloom enough among them as it was.

But he would hurry.
He was the first to get through with breakfast, the first to set to work among the dogs, and when Mukoki started out at the head of the team through the forest he was close beside him, urging him to greater speed by his own endeavors.
"How far are we from the camp, Mukoki ?" he asked.
"Four hour--twent' mile," replied the old pathfinder.
"Twenty miles.

We ought to make it by dawn." Mukoki made no answer, but quickened his pace as the cedar and balsam forest gave place to an open plain which stretched for a mile or two ahead of them.

For an hour longer the moon continued to light up the wilderness; then, with its descent lower and lower into the west, the gloom began to thicken, until only the stars were left to guide the pursuers.