distance from this cave. I wouldn't dare to make the attempt."

"But are we to go away without trying to find the poor fellow?" Neal
asked in a tone of distress.

"It would be useless to search, and we are now in too much danger to
waste any time," Cummings said sternly. "Our one chance of escape was
to give the enemy the idea that we had succeeded in getting out of the
country, and he has destroyed it. Now this portion of the forest will be
filled with Indians, and in twenty-four hours from the moment he or his
trail is seen, we shall be discovered. We cannot aid him, and I doubt
whether I would be willing to do so if it was possible, for a man of
average common sense who will act as he has done deserves punishment."

The boys made no reply. Each instant their companion's anger against
Jake increased, and it was not well to rouse him by further
conversation.

Near the bank of the stream Poyor had built a fire and was cooking a
portion of the tapir and the fish, for in the hurried flight which was
soon to be begun there might not be an opportunity to prepare food.

The Indian had unpacked the bundles in order to discard everything not
absolutely necessary, and was tying each compactly when the boys
approached.

"Why are you making only three packages?" Neal asked. "Teddy and I want
to do our full share of the work, and it isn't right for you and
Cummings to lug everything."

"You will be forced to do more than an equal share because that which
Jake carried must now be divided between us," Poyor replied grimly. "The
fourth load is to be made up of the provisions."

"Are you going straight for the coast, and try to force your way through
the line of sentinels?"

"That cannot be done. We must now ascend the mountain range on the north
of the forest."

"But by so doing the journey will be made much longer, won't it?"

"Very much."

"Then why not try to fight through?"

"Because it is impossible. Not one of us would live to see the ocean."

There was not much comfort to be derived from such a conversation, and
again the boys went to the entrance where Cummings was examining
carefully all the weapons.

"You must carry plenty of cartridges where they can be gotten at
quickly," he said, as they came up. "It is impossible to say what may
happen, and no precaution should be neglected. The guns are in good
order, and with them we may succeed in holding the enemy at such a
distance that their arrows cannot be us