“They are afraid of those bicycles—so afraid that they will not go near them. Therefore our hard bread and jerked beef is safe as long as we let it remain where it is.”
Harry agreed with Bruce, and they decided not to touch the food in the carriers; but all were thirsty again, and they expressed a desire to have another drink from the water-hole.
To this the Indians did not object, and they took turns at drinking, although the water did not taste nearly as sweet as it had the first time.
Having satisfied themselves in this manner they sat down on the ground once more, being compelled to do so by the redskins, who were watching them closely.
“They have us in a bad position in case they take a notion to crack us over the head,” said Harry. “We wouldn’t get a show.”
“Mah gracious!” gurgled Toots, holding fast to his scalp with both hands. “We’s gwan teh git it fo’ suah, chilluns! De fus’ fing we know we won’t no nuffin’!”
“We must get out of this somehow,” muttered Bruce.
“That’s right,” nodded Jack. “Merriwell has taken care of himself, and left us to take care of ourselves.”
He spoke in a manner that showed he felt that Frank had done them a great wrong.
“It’s a good thing he got away as he did,” asserted Harry. “Now we know we have a friend who is not a captive like ourselves, and we know he knows the fix we are in. You may be sure he will do what he can for us.”