plenty of wood,
and then try to find another toh."

At the swiftly running stream nothing resembling an alligator was seen,
and the white members of the party enjoyed to the utmost copious
draughts of the ice-cold liquid.

Meanwhile the Indian was rapidly obeying Cummings' orders. He built a
fire near the water, and by the light which the white stones reflected
in every direction, had but little difficulty in knocking over three
more of what Teddy persisted in calling "chickens."

Leaving the cave again he soon returned with a lot of clay which he
pasted over the tohs without removing the feathers or intestines, and
thus prepared one would have supposed they were nothing more than so
many balls of mud.

These he put into the fire, piled the wood over and around them, and
then sat down to wait for the fruits of his labor.

The boys fell asleep before the fowls were cooked: but after a little
more than an hour Cummings awakened them to get their share of the
feast.

The now thoroughly baked clay was broken open, and it was found that the
feathers and skin of the birds had adhered to the covering, leaving the
white flesh temptingly exposed.

Among the small amount of stores there was salt sufficient for several
days' consumption, therefore they were not without seasoning for the
meat, and Jake, Neal and Teddy were quite positive they had never eaten
anything half so delicious as this odd chicken baked in a most singular
manner.

CHAPTER XVIII.

CAVE LIFE.

When the meal was ended it was nearly daylight and Cummings said as he
stretched himself out close by the entrance:

"It is necessary that the strictest kind of a watch should be kept every
moment of the time from now on. I'll take the first trick, Jake shall be
awakened next, and Poyor, who has done the most work, comes last."

"But what are Teddy and I to do?" Neal asked in surprise. "We are as
well able to stand guard as any one else."

"I allowed that it would be at least twenty-four hours before you were
in condition for anything," Cummings replied with a laugh.

"That is where you made a big mistake," Teddy added. "We insist on doing
our full share."

"Very well, if Poyor is asleep when Jake goes off duty one of you shall
be called."

It was arranged that they should sleep near the entrance where the
sentinel could awaken them if necessary, without making a noise, and
after the weapons were examined once more to make certain they were