A hunter or prospector would naturally choose such a position.
He travelled slowly, questing both sides of the stream, and listening.
He expected at any moment to hear a sound, a new kind of sound.

And he also scrutinized closely the clean, white bars of sand.

There were footprints in them, of the wild things.

Once his heart gave a sudden jump when he saw a bear track that looked very much like a moccasin track.

It was a wonderful bear country.