Wabigoon understood him, and watched him eagerly.
"What do you think of it, Muky ?" "Man shoot powder and ball gun, not cartridge," replied Mukoki slowly.
"Old gun.

Strange; ver' strange!" "A muzzle loader!" said Wabi.
The Indian nodded.
"Had powder, no lead.

Got hungry; used gold." Eight words had told the story, or at least enough of it to clear away a part of the cloud of mystery, but the other part still remained.
Who had fired the bullet, _and where had the gold come from ?_ "He must have struck it rich," said Wabi "else would he have a chunk of gold like that ?" "Where that come from--more, much! more," agreed Mukoki shortly.
"Do you suppose--" began Rod.

There was a curious thrill in his voice, and he paused, as if scarce daring to venture the rest of what he had meant to say.

"Do you suppose--somebody has found--our gold ?" Mukoki and Wabigoon stared at him as if he had suddenly exploded a mine.