“So would I,” acknowledged Grant, “but they’ll come when they’re found and not before.  These fellows are here now and Zeke says it’s the law of the desert that a man who drops into your camp at nightfall is entitled to share everything you have,—­supplies, tents, beds and everything.”

“Then I suppose we shall have to put up with it,” said George somewhat glumly.  “I don’t like the appearance of either one of them,” he added as again he glanced at the men who now were seated at one side of the camp.

Zeke, apparently was not paying any undue attention to either of the visitors.  He was busying himself in certain camp duties though it was plain to his young friends that throughout his task he was keenly observant of the actions of their unwelcome visitors.

Darkness now was creeping over the land and already outlines of the great gulch were becoming confused with the clouds and the trees.  It was almost impossible to determine where the rim of the gulch was.  The silence, too, that rested over the region was almost oppressive.  It was a silence more intense than anything any of the Go Ahead Boys ever before had experienced.  Their difficulties were multiplied too by the arrival of the two men whose bearing and actions certainly increased the probability that Fred’s statement concerning them that they were “bad men” was true.

The two visitors had eagerly accepted the supper which was given them and then they did not indicate any desire to depart.  They did not disturb conditions nor did they strive to enter into conversation with the campers.  Occasionally Zeke or one of the boys had spoken to the men, but otherwise they had mostly been left to their own devices.

When time for retiring had come and John and Pete had not come back nor had any word been heard from the young Navajo who had gone in search of them, even Zeke became somewhat serious when the boys spoke to him concerning the failure of the other members of their party to join them.

“I’m thinking” Zeke remarked, “that Kitoni will be able to find ’em, that is, if they’re still in the land of the livin’.”

“But don’t you think they are?” demanded Fred, aghast.

“In course I think they are,” said Zeke testily.  “There wouldn’t be no use in tryin’ to find ’em if they weren’t.”

“But Thomas Jefferson says this valley is a place where the spirits of the dead Indians come and they don’t like to be disturbed.  He says that any one who tries to come into this valley is certain to have trouble.”

“I reckon we’ve had our share of trouble,” growled Zeke, “and we haven’t got very far into the Gulch yet either, but I don’t believe no red-skin spirit has nothin’ at all to do with it.”

The guide’s meaning, in spite of his failure to express himself, was clear to his young companions and they strove to be content, although all three were aware that Zeke was becoming increasingly uneasy over the continued absence of John and Pete.