the cave it seemed to Neal and Teddy that Jake had really
been abandoned, and, regardless of what he had done, they felt that it
was cruel to hurry away so soon.

"It could have done no harm to wait until morning," Neal said in a
whisper, when they halted a short distance from the starting point while
Poyor went ahead to reconnoiter.

"And by that time we might have found ourselves besieged. It would have
been a delay of twenty-four hours, for all our traveling must be done in
the night," Cummings replied. "We have taken the only course he left
open to us, and we won't discuss the matter any more."

The march was resumed after a short delay, and not until two hours had
passed did the Indian so much as slacken his pace.

They had arrived where the forest is less dense; but the undergrowth
more tangled, and Poyor signified by gestures that the boys would be
allowed a short time of rest.

Teddy was about to ask if he could take off the pack, for the cords were
cutting into his flesh in a painful manner; but the Indian checked him
with a quick motion of the hand.

The party were now near where it was supposed a line of sentinels was
stationed, and, holding his finger to his lips, Cummings gave them to
understand that the utmost silence must be preserved.

Again Poyor went forward alone, and the tired boys sat with their backs
against a tree thinking only of Jake and his possible fate.

The silence was so profound as to be almost alarming. Here and there
amid the foliage could be seen countless fire-flies; but not even the
rustling of the leaves broke the stillness, and it did not require any
very great stretch of the imagination to fancy that the enemy were
lurking close at hand awaiting an opportunity to spring upon them.

Once a rat-like tuza ran past within a few inches of Teddy's feet, and
as the boy leaped up in affright, fancying the vengeful Indians had
discovered him, it was with difficulty he repressed a cry of alarm.

With so many horrible things to think of it was a decided relief when
Poyor came gliding noiselessly back to announce that the journey could
be continued, and once more the little party picked their way over
fallen and decaying timber, or through thickets where thorns tore both
clothing and flesh.

After a time they reached ascending ground, showing that they were on
the foot hills of the range, and the advance became more laborious,
until, shortly before sunrise, Neal declared that he c