A brief examination satisfied him that the doe had been shot at least two hours before.

The three hunters had cut out her heart, liver and tongue and had also taken the hind quarters, leaving the remainder of the carcass and the skin! Why had they neglected this most valuable part of their spoils?
With a new gleam of interest in his eyes Mukoki carefully scrutinized the moccasin trails.

He soon discovered that the Indians ahead of him were in great haste, and that after cutting the choicest meat from the doe they had started off to make up for lost time by running! With another grunt of astonishment the old Indian returned to the carcass, quickly stripped off the skin, wrapped in it the fore quarters and ribs of the doe, and thus loaded, took up the home trail.

It was dark when he reached camp.

Wabi and Rod had not yet returned.