slow, and at least
an hour was consumed in traveling less than a mile.

Teddy was on the point of protesting against such excessive precaution
when the sound of voices caused all the party to crouch low among the
bushes, hiding themselves in the foliage just as four Chan Santa Cruz
Indians came to a halt not more than twenty feet away.

It was not difficult to distinguish the form of each one even amid the
gloom, and from their manoeuvers Teddy and Neal were confident that
they had halted for the remainder of the night.

It would have been impossible to hold any conversation, however guarded,
without the certainty of being heard while these men were so near, and
the fugitives remained motionless, hardly daring to breathe, until it
seemed as if some change of position must be made regardless of the
consequences.

Each one with the possible exception of Poyor, was so cramped as to be
in great pain: but all knew that the slightest unusual noise among the
foliage would have attracted attention.

Of course Cummings' party was more than a match for the Indians; but in
addition to his disinclination to begin a fight, was the chance that
there might be others in the immediate vicinity who would join in the
battle, thus reducing the odds which appeared to be in favor of the
white men.

It was in the highest degree important, also, that they remain hidden,
for once the Indians got a glimpse of the party it would be a simple
matter to track them to the next hiding place.

There was another and a very weighty reason why both Cummings and Poyor
wished to avoid an encounter in the forest, even though their weapons
were much superior to those carried by the Chan Santa Cruz so far as
rapid work was concerned. Unless struck in some vital part, the chances
are in favor of recovery from a bullet wound; but let the skin be
punctured ever so slightly by arrows poisoned with the venom of the
snake known as the nahuyaca and death is certain to follow.

With all this in mind it is little wonder that the fugitives suffered
considerable pain before making any attempt to change positions, and
that they would be forced to remain exactly where the halt had been
made, until morning, seemed positive.

Poyor was well content to stay there as long as the men carried on a
conversation, for he was thus enabled to get some valuable information
concerning their proposed movements, and not a word escaped him.

Three hours elapsed before the pur