and swallowing for some time
longer, when he finally shut his eyes and again slept.

Picking up a piece of the root which he had gathered Elwood tasted of
it. He found it so bitter that he instantly spat it out.

"It must have some medicinal quality," remarked Howard, "or he would not
use it. I believe the Indians doctor entirely with herbs, and I have no
doubt that he will soon be well."

"Do yez mind that if it isn't noon it is close to the same? And be the
tame towken we are all slightly hungry."

Now arose a query. The island was so small that it contained no game of
any kind, and so was unavailable to supply their wants. The river
abounded in fish, but there was no means of catching them; and finally,
after some discussion, it was agreed that Tim should cross over to the
mainland and shoot something.

"Do yez kaap your eyes about yez till I'z back again, for some of the
coppery gintlemen may take a notion to pay yez a visit."

The boys felt a little uneasiness as they saw their companion enter the
canoe and paddle toward the eastern shore--the shore which as yet had
been unvisited by them. They watched until he landed, pulled the boat up
behind him into shelter, and then disappeared in the wood.

"We shall be in rather a bad situation if he never comes back," remarked
Elwood.

"I don't know about that; in what better occupation can we be found than
in ministering to the wants of a suffering Indian? Would not that itself
protect us from injury?"

"Perhaps it might; but what would become of us any way? They wouldn't be
kind enough to guide us up to San Francisco."

"They might take us so far that we could find our way."

"Hardly; I don't like to see Tim go to that shore; it looks too
dangerous. I wonder why he did it?"

"He must have believed there is more game there."

"But there is enough on the other side, and he would avoid this greater
danger by going there."

"I imagine that a river running through a hostile country is as
dangerous upon one side as upon the other, and there is little choice,
Howard, in the matter."

"But I know _you_ feel unpleasant in being thus left alone."

"I know I shall be glad to see Tim come back again, for there is always
great danger in such a small party separating."

"Halloo! there goes his gun or somebody else's."

The sharp crack of the rifle came from the shore, and Elwood was sure he
saw the faint smoke of the discharge ascend from some thick bushes near