"Perhaps not. I noticed yesterday that he went where there was a sort of eddy, and you see he can't find that very well unless it is close by land."
Howard pointed to the lower end of the island:
"What better place could he find than that? It is just the spot to catch fish."
By this time Shasta's canoe had reached the bank, but instead of landing he turned the prow down stream, and slowly glided along as if in quest of something. This to Tim O'Rooney was proof of the truth of his declaration.
"What did I tell yees? The thrip to shore was not enough, and he's taking a wee turn further."
"He is looking for a good fishing ground," affirmed Howard. "If it were anything else he would not go so slowly."
As Elwood spoke the Pah Utah rose in his canoe and stepped ashore. He stooped and employed himself a moment with the canoe and then disappeared.
"It cannot be that he has left us," said Elwood, in considerable alarm.
This seemed very reasonable, and the party waited patiently for his return. No personal danger to himself could be expected, as he could not be approached undiscovered by any hostile white man, and being an Indian he could have no cause to fear anything from his own race.
Still there was a vague misgiving that everything was not right--that something unusual would be the result of this separation--and each member of the little party awaited, with more anxiety than he would have confessed, some evidence of the intention of the Pah Utah.
The three whites were still gazing toward the eastern shore, intently looking for some sign, or listening to some sound which might tell something regarding Shasta, when they were startled by a loud whirring or buzzing overhead, and looking up saw a large bird passing within a few feet of them--so close that its claws could be seen curled up against its body, as it made a sudden sweep to the right, frightened at its near approach to its human enemies.
"Shoot it!" called out Elwood to Howard. "My gun isn't loaded, and it will make us a good breakfast."
But the bird, whatever it was, did not choose to wait until the heavy rifle could be brought to bear upon it; and by the time Howard had fairly got the idea through his head, it was skimming away over the country toward the Coast Range.