ce of the wagon,
but the scouting parties cautiously spread out and moved up the stream.
They passed through the thick undergrowth where John and the Professor
had passed the night before and were, apparently, nonplussed at the
disappearance.

This recalled the former experience farther up the river, and all had a
merry laugh at the discomfiture. They saw the tracks of the wagon, and
it ceased at the undergrowth, and this was the puzzling feature to them,
but in time the tracks were followed up leading to the river bank, and
the evidences of the driftwood all about was sufficient information to
them to stop all further pursuit.

"What should we do if they attempt to cross?" was George's inquiry.

"That would be our chance to go for them," responded Harry.

They remained on the bank for two hours, constantly looking across for
signs of the retreating wagon, and then slowly filtered back through the
woods beyond.

"Isn't this the place we saw the lights during our first trip to the
river?" asked Harry.

"No," answered the Professor; "we were fully six or eight miles north of
this point, but it might be some tribes are found that far down the
river."

Breakfast had been forgotten in the interesting watching of their
enemies, and when they had fully disappeared from view the party had an
opportunity for the first time in a whole week to get a sample of cooked
food.

"I am sorry to say," said George, "that we haven't any fresh meat, and
the best we can do is coffee and corned beef."

Harry and John had their guns in an instant, and started out on the
quest for food.

"Where did you get the coffee and corned beef?" asked Ralph.

"We put up the beef ourselves, and there is plenty of this kind of
coffee on the island."

"But you have sugar, too."

"Yes; we made that and also have plenty of honey."

This was surprising information for the boys.

"But how did you make the guns? Where did you get the iron?"

"We dug it out of the ground and put up our own foundry, and have a
water wheel and a machine shop."

All this was said with a show of pardonable pride; and he continued:
"Wait until you see where we live and how we have things fixed up."

The shots which were plainly heard indicated something good to eat, and
before the hunters arrived the stove was removed from the wagon, and
George had a good fire started.

A woodchuck and two pheasants were the trophies. What a feast they made.
The chief was now i