The stars in the sky above him were shining so brightly and appeared to be so near that to the boy it seemed almost possible that they might be plucked from their setting.  Not a cloud was visible in the sky.  The silence that rested over the entire region was so tense that Fred’s nerves were tingling as he stopped for a moment to look about him and listen.  What a marvelous experience it was.  Alone with a few of his friends on the limitless plains, thoughts of the busy scenes in the great city in which he had his home were almost impossible under such conditions.  The whole world seemed to be barren, while over all were the shining stars whose lights were visible thousands of miles away.

Suddenly Fred’s thoughts were diverted from the sublimity of the sight which had claimed his attention.  At that moment he saw the form of some one peering just above the rim of the great Gulch.

Startled by the sight Fred dropped upon the ground and excitedly waited for events to develop.

The man before him turned for a moment and apparently was speaking to some one who was hidden from Fred’s sight.  The boy was confident that he overheard several words although he was not able to distinguish anything that was said.

Fred saw the man whose approach he had discovered now turn again and silently approach the camp.

Greatly surprised Fred speedily was aware that the approaching man was Thomas Jefferson.  It was not possible to deny that he had left the camp and in all probability had been talking to some one in the Gulch.  Who or what the man was, it was impossible for Fred to conjecture.  Troubled and perplexed by the strange occurrence he started swiftly toward the camp.  As he drew near, abruptly the Indian arose and advanced.

“Is that you, Thomas Jefferson?” whispered Fred.

“What you do?” replied the Indian.  The Navajo spoke in low tones, but his excitement was revealed in the trembling of his voice.

“Me?  I haven’t done anything.  What have you been doing?”

“What you see?” inquired the Indian.

Ignoring the question, Fred said, “Who was talking to you?”

“Where?  What you see?  What you hear?” demanded the Navajo now plainly aroused by the question of the Go Ahead Boy.

“I have told you,” replied Fred.  “What were you doing out there with that fellow below the rim of the canyon?”

Before Thomas Jefferson could reply a thought flashed into Fred’s mind which nearly staggered him.  Was it possible that the Navajo had been meeting the two white men who had made so much trouble?  And if he had met them what had he told them?  Was he revealing what every one in the camp now was expected to keep secret?  And why were the two white men still following the party if they had already discovered the location of Simon Moultrie’s claim?

The questions were so troublesome that Fred decided that it was necessary for him to consult Zeke at once and tell him about the exciting experience through which he had just passed.