"If ebber I should get out of this yar scrape, an' I should hab lots of money an' plenty ob time," said Ike with comical earnestness, "I'll go off to some place whar it ain't dark most all de time, an' I'll sleep in de sun foh weeks an' weeks an' weeks at a stretch, an' don't you forgit it."
As it was now about three o'clock in the afternoon Sam, after consulting with Ulna, and recalling their experience of the night before, decided not to launch their raft till the following morning.
Wishing more than ever that he was a bird, Ike went off with Wah Shin to gather fuel, and Sam and Ulna, both much exhausted, lay down to get a little much needed sleep.
When they closed their eyes the western sun was flooding the cañon with a river of golden glory, when they woke up "night had let her sable curtain down and pinned it with a star."
A great fire was blazing near by, and Ike and Wah Shin were preparing supper, while Maj sat licking his chops and eagerly watching the operations.
Sam had already divided the provisions, so that with care, "an' not eatin' nigh's much as they felt like," to use Ike's words, they could manage to live without much suffering for another week.
After supper Ike startled the company by saying:
"See heah, Mistah Sam, I'ze got an offer to make."
"What is it, Ike?"
Before proceeding Ike turned and pointed to the parcels containing their little stock of food.