74 THE FUR COUNTRY. " That is as it may be," replied the Lieutenant. *' If these be the traces of Esquimaux, they are more likely to have gone on than to have turned back; and if they be those of Indians, they are pro- bably, like ourselves, seeking a new hunting district ; and in either case it will be very unfortunate for us." " But," said Mrs Barnett, "cannot we find out to what race the travellers do belong % Can't we ascertain if they be Esquimaux or Indians from the south ? I should think tribes of such a different origin, and of such dissimilar customs, would not encamp in the same manner." Mrs Barnett was right ; they might possibly solve the mystery after a thorough examination of the ground. Jaspar Hobson and others set to work, carefully examining every trace, every object left behind, every mark on the ground ; but in vain, there was nothing to guide them to a decided opinion. The bones of some animals scattered about told them nothing, and the Lieutenant, much annoyed, w^s about to abandon the useless search, when he heard an exclamation from Mrs Joliffe, who had wandered a little way to the left. All hurried towards the young Canadian, who remained fixed to the spot, looking attentively at the ground before her. As her companions came up she said — " You are looking for traces. Lieutenant ; well, here are some." And Mrs Joliffe pointed to a good many footprints clearly visible in the firm clay. •■ These might reveal something ; for the feet of the Indians and Esquimaux, as well as their boots, are totally different from each other. But what chiefly struck Lieutenant Hobson was the strange arrangement of these impressions. They were evidently made by a human foot, a shod foot ; but, strange to say, the ball alone appeared to have touched the ground ! The marks were very numerous, close together, often crossing one another, but confined to a very small circle. Jaspar Hobson called the attention of the rest of the party to this singular circumstance.
- Theise were not made by a person walking," he said.
" Nor by a person jumping," added Mrs Barnett ; " for there is no mark of a heel." " No," said Mrs Joliffe ; " these footprints were left by a dancer."
