f exposing their presence,
so they had to push the wagon back, by their combined energy, and as
noiselessly as it could be done the team was yoked on and slowly moved
south, and after traveling a quarter of a mile or more, directed toward
the river, and then northwardly, thus making a wide circle in the effort
to avoid their camp.

"I'd much rather shoot them than to run away," was Tom's opinion of the
situation. "The dirty rascals; they are known to be the meanest set on
the island, and we oughtn't show them any mercy."

By this time the boys were worked up into a fighting fever.

"I think we can lick the whole lot of them, and for my part, I am
willing to wait here and take a shot at them; what do you say?" Ralph
was really mad at the demons, as he called them.

The boys looked at each other. Harry was the only one who seemed to have
the situation well in hand from a true hunter's standpoint. "If we stay
here you will certainly get an opportunity, or I am very much mistaken."

"Why do you say so?" asked Tom.

"For the plain and simple reason that they will cross our tracks in all
probability, and that will mean an easy trail."

"But how will they know which way to go after us? They may go down to
the river."

"Well, they wouldn't be such idiots as to go in the opposite direction
that the footprints of the yaks plainly show."

The boys had not thought of that.

"And then there is another thing, that just occurred to me. If they
follow our tracks from the camping spot they will know we have made the
detour in order to avoid them, and that will make them only the more
anxious to make our closer acquaintance."

Harry had hardly stopped speaking before the voices of their enemies
were discernible.

CHAPTER XI

THE RUSE TO ESCAPE THEIR PURSUERS

The wagon was now driven behind the densest chapparal of trees, unyoked,
and tethered behind the wagon, and two of the boys took up a concealed
position with a pair of extra guns, at each side.

Harry, who had, by common consent, assumed the command, now made the
following observations as to their course: "Remember the Professor's
instructions, to keep cool and not to fire until you are perfectly sure
the shot will count. And by all means don't use the reserve guns, except
as a last extremity. The moment you fire, retire out of sight, and
reload, and we should try and fire in separate volleys. Two shots at a
time, unless they attempt a rush, will, probably