holding up the guerillas too. They've got to go
into camp and they're not getting any further ahead of us. Likely enough
they'll feel pretty secure now and they won't be stirring so early
to-morrow, while we'll be afoot at the first streak of daylight. What
we've got to do now is to figure out the best and safest way to spend the
night."

Near the spot where they were when darkness had overtaken them, was a
grassy knoll, at the edge of which uprose a giant rock. At the foot of
this they drew together enough of branches and shrubs to make a rude bed,
and prepared to settle down and spend as best they could the hours before
the coming of the dawn. They did not dare to make a fire, lest some
prying eyes might discover their location. They had nothing to cook
anyway, but the fire would have served to keep up their spirits and the
smoke would have kept off the mosquitoes that hovered over them in
swarms. It would have helped also to drive the chill from their bones,
brought on by the heavy mists that rose from the lush vegetation and set
their teeth to chattering. They drew close together for the
companionship, and munched their bread and meat in silence. They were
feeling the reaction that follows sustained effort and great excitement,
and their hearts were too sick and sore for speech.

Then suddenly while they brooded--as suddenly as the sun had set--the
moon arose and flooded the world with glory.

It put new life into the boys. They took heart of hope. Their mental
barometer began to climb.

"I say, Bert," exclaimed Tom, eagerly voicing the thought that struck
them both at once, "couldn't we follow the trail by moonlight?"

"I don't know," answered Bert, quite as excitedly. "Perhaps we can.
Let's make a try at it."

They started to their feet and hurried to the spot where they had left
the trail. Bathed in that soft luminous splendor, it certainly seemed as
though they should have no difficulty in following it as easily as by
day. But they soon found their mistake. It was an unreal light, a fairy
light that fled from details and concealed rather than revealed them. It
lay on the ground like a shimmering, silken mesh, but through its
tremulous beauty they could not detect the signs they sought. They
needed the merciless, penetrating light of day. Their hopes were dashed,
but they had to yield to the inevitable. They were turning back
dejectedly to their improvised camp, when Bert stopped short i