Close around it the snow was beaten down with human tracks.

Mukoki saw where the outlaws had stolen up behind the cabin from the forest and he saw where they had gone away after the attack.
Five had come down from the cedars, only four had gone away! Where was Wabi?
If he had been captured, and taken with the Indians, there would have been five trails.

Rod understood this as well as Mukoki, and he also understood why his companion went back to make another investigation of the smoldering ruins.

This second search, however, convinced the Indian that Wabi's body had not been thrown into the fire.

There was only one conclusion to draw.