During his walk with Mr. Alford he appeared interested
only in machinery, ores, etc., but his trained eyes made a
topographical map of surroundings, and everything centred about
Bute's shanty. In the evening, he amply returned his host's
hospitality by comic and tragic stories of criminal life. The next
day he began to lay his plans carefully, and disappeared soon
after breakfast with the ostensible purpose of climbing a height
at some distance for the sake of the prospect. He soon doubled
round, noting every covert approach to Bute's lodgings. His eye
and ear were as quick as an Indian's; but he still maintained, in
case he was observed, the manner of an elderly stranger strolling
about to view the region.
By noon he felt that he had the immediate locality by heart. His
afternoon task was to explore the possibilities of a stream that
crossed the mine road something over a mile away, and for this
purpose he mounted his horse. He soon reached the shallow ford,
and saw that the water was backed up for a considerable distance,
and that the shallows certainly extended around a high, jutting
rock which hid the stream from that point and beyond from the
road.
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