ry hour."

"Will the journey be a hard one?"

"You mean up the coast? Yes, it will, and what is bound to make it
particularly bad is the glare of the sun as reflected from the water."

"It can't be any worse than climbing the range, knowing the Indians were
close behind," Teddy said with evident satisfaction.

"You are right, my boy, and we shall have the pleasure of knowing that
each step taken is one the less, without any fear of being obliged to
double back in order to escape enemies."

During nearly the entire day the boys strained their eyes trying to get
a glimpse of the sea; but not until late in the afternoon was this
possible.

Then, as the canoe rounded a point, the vast expanse of water lay spread
out before them, and was greeted with three rousing cheers.

"It begins to look now as if there was some chance of our getting home,"
Teddy cried excitedly. "We are at least where a vessel can be signaled
in case anything should prevent us from walking and----"

"Don't flatter yourself that we shall see many sailing crafts within
hailing distance," Cummings interrupted. "At this point the water is so
shallow that only the smallest boats venture inshore."

"Never mind, we can see the ocean while tramping along, and know that
somewhere on it is the steamer which will carry us home."

When the voyage was resumed all hands worked at the paddles, for it was
quite important, according to Cummings' belief, that they should get out
of the lagoon before sunset, and the canoe sped on, dashing the spray in
the air with her bow as if rejoicing that the journey was so nearly
ended.

There were yet two hours of daylight remaining when the party reached
the mouth of the narrow channel they had been threading, and to the left
was the coast, piled high with rocks.

Only through the inlet leading to the lagoon could a landing be effected
from a vessel, and it was at this point that the hunters had been set
ashore by the craft on which they had come from Progresso.

There was yet a small supply of provisions on the canoe, and these the
Indians willingly shared with their passengers. The water gourds were
divided between the two parties, and, having been paid a good price for
their labor, by Cummings, the four men departed, not wishing to spend
the night where fever lurked.

"We don't particularly need rest," Cummings said, when the fugitives
from the Silver City were alone again; "but it would be foolish to begin
the