“No—go forrard. No doubt half a dozen on ’em’s gone down the ground, an’ no knowin’ how many ar’ d’rectly oppersite. We must pass ter the left o’ these, an’ go on towarts the lake-shore. Ef Rhodan hez got landed, he an’ Goodbrand ’ll need help. We must try ter git ’em with us.”
“Very well. Shall I speak to the others?”
“Yis. No—hold on. I’ll dew that myself, an’ you go on—one on ’em’s above ye now. I’ll try ter cross here, shortly. You kin try the same furder up.”
“You’ll git into greater danger by that,” said Revel. “Them that ar’ watchin’ from where it’s darker ’ll see ye the better.”
“’Tain’t so much resk as ter lay still here when a number o’ the skunks are creepin’ up ahind us. Ef they come up in time we’ll be atween tew fires, an’ then thar wouldn’t be half a chance left. Move on.”
Convinced that his companion was right, Revel obeyed. The darkness was now so great that he could see scarce half a rifle’s length around him. A few yards away he found another of the rangers, and hurriedly apprising him of Mace’s plans, the two stole forward.
All the senses of the men were now literally strained. Not only had they to avoid making any noise which might disclose their position to lurking foes, but also to hold themselves ready for any sudden encounter. At any moment they might meet an enemy as agile, watchful and skilled in forest warfare as themselves. And yet, instead of a feeling of dread, one of wild, intense excitement thrilled their veins.
They had crept forward but a rod or two when they detected similar movements on their right. Will Revel knew that the Indians were moving up to intercept them, and that Mace was perhaps at that moment gliding across the open space.
He whispered a moment to his companion. The latter agreed to move on alone. Revel himself wished to strike across the open space at this point.
He waited some moments, listening to the almost noiseless advance of his fellow-rangers. Then he turned and was about to glide across the open space, when a voice spoke close to his ear. He knew it, and turned to see the Indian girl close beside him.