hen much valuable
time was lost in trying to ignite the fuel made damp by the spray which
had been thrown up. It seemed to him that never had he been so clumsy,
and the anxiety to move quickly only served to retard his efforts.

Finally, after what to Teddy appeared to be a very long while, the fat
wood was ignited, and then it could be seen that Cummings was in a most
dangerous position. He was not more than six feet from the aperture
through which the water raced with redoubled force because the opening
was several inches lower than the surface, and swam as if nearly
exhausted.

Jake was the only one who could render any assistance just at this
moment, and he proved to be equal to the occasion.

Seizing one of the guns he waded into the water to his waist, and
succeeded in extending the weapon sufficiently for Cummings to grasp the
end of the barrel.

"Hold on for grim death; I've got to drop the torch!" he shouted,
suiting the action to the words, and Teddy could see no more because the
light was suddenly extinguished.

Now the sentinel forgot that the enemy might creep upon them and running
forward he cried:

"Don't give in, Jake; I'll help you."

Before he could reach the stream the work was accomplished. Jake pulled
Cummings on the bank by the side of Neal, and proceeded to relight the
torch, a difficult matter since the matches in his pocket had been
spoiled by the action of the water.

In this last work Teddy was able to render some assistance, and the
flame had but just sprung up from the wood when Cummings said hurriedly:

"Extinguish that light. If we haven't advertised our whereabouts to the
Indians already there is no reason for taking foolish risks. We'll
attend to matters here, Teddy, and you get back to the entrance."

This command was obeyed at once, and the sentinel heard only a faint
sound from the direction of the stream until his companions rejoined
him, none the worse for the battle except in the respect of being
decidedly wet.

"Have you heard anything suspicious?" Cummings asked anxiously.

"Not the slightest noise. If there had been any Indians in the vicinity
they would surely have made an attempt to enter when all hands was
raising such an uproar."

Cummings crept through the short tunnel and investigated in the
immediate vicinity of the opening before he could believe they had been
so fortunate, and when he returned Jake said:

"I thought you wouldn't find anything. If those