Part 38 (2/2)

”We can stand it,” Teddy replied bravely. ”Every step takes us just so much nearer the coast, and one glimpse of the sea will repay us for all our exertions.”

It seemed as if even Poyor was affected by the heat. He no longer strode forward at such a rapid pace; but lagged from time to time as badly as either member of the party.

c.u.mmings urged first one and then another on until about eleven o'clock in the forenoon, and then he said, coming to a full stop by the side of the stream they had been following:

”We can now afford to indulge in a siesta, and shall probably travel all the better for frequent halts. Later in the day one of us will do a little hunting, and the march need not come to an end until it is no longer light enough for us to see the way.”

To this very welcome proposition no one had any objections to offer, and in the shortest possible s.p.a.ce of time only the sentinel, which on this occasion proved to be Teddy, was left awake.

It was dull work sitting there listening to the droning of the insects; but no member of the party could have kept watch more conscientiously than did he, and when it seemed impossible to hold his eyes open any longer he paced to and fro to prevent them from closing.

With the exception of the usual noises of the forest, it was as if all nature slumbered, and he had just begun to think that standing watch was a useless precaution when an unusual rustling among the foliage caused him to start in surprise.

His first thought was that the Chan Santa Cruz had followed them over the range; but an instant later this was shown to be a mistake, as four copper-colored men, bearing no resemblance to the inhabitants of the Silver City, however, pa.s.sed through the forest a short distance away without apparently being aware of the proximity of the white party.

To arouse Poyor was but the work of an instant, for it was only necessary to touch him gently on the shoulder when he sprang to his feet.

”There are some men over there,” Teddy whispered as he pointed in the direction taken by the strangers.

The Indian started through the underbrush as noiselessly as a serpent, and as he disappeared the boy awakened c.u.mmings.

”Were they armed?” the latter asked, after the short story had been told.

”I didn't notice. My only idea was to arouse you and Poyor, and there wasn't much time for an examination.”

”It can't be that they have followed us over the range,” c.u.mmings said, half to himself, as he seized his weapon and made sure it was loaded.

”It won't do any harm to be prepared, therefore you had best get the others on their feet; we may have to trust to our legs.”

It was not an easy matter to awaken the remainder of the party without causing an outcry; but by first covering the mouth of each with his hand Teddy finally succeeded, and then stood on the alert with them as c.u.mmings made his way in the direction taken by Poyor to a.s.sist in the investigation.

One, two, three minutes of suspense followed, and then came a cry which set all their fears at rest. It was the salutation of friends, and an instant later c.u.mmings shouted:

”Do not fear; we have found acquaintances.”

”It is time something of the kind was discovered,” Jake said in a tone of relief. ”I was beginning to think we should never meet one again.”

”They looked like Indians,” Teddy said doubtfully, and Neal added:

”I fancy we can take c.u.mmings' word for it. Here they are, and it will soon be possible to know why they were so foolish as to come into this part of the country where wild beasts are not the least of the dangers to be encountered.”

The strangers appeared, escorted by Poyor and the white man, and the latter said as they came into the opening selected as a halting place:

”These are acquaintances of ours from Merida, who have visited this section of the country in search of bird skins, which find a ready sale among your people. They have a canoe, and report that a dozen miles below here the stream widens until it can be navigated by reasonably large crafts.”

”Since we haven't so much as the smallest kind of a boat I can't see how that information will be of any use to us,” Neal replied laughingly.

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