Jack explained their situation as best he could, and then said:
"There is one thing in our favor, and that is they haven't taken our weapons from us. I want you to crawl behind me, Joe, and see if you can't gnaw loose the bonds that hold my hands together. If you can do it I will set you free then; and we will then open fire on these little savages and run for it."
"All right," replied the boy, "I'll do my best."
He crept behind Jack and began the task allotted to him, which he found would be a difficult one, as the thongs which bound them were of leather.
Meanwhile the dwarfs, who had evidently been holding a consultation in regard to their prisoners, suddenly arose to their feet and began singing a weird chant in their queer language.
The moment they began it others came hurrying to the spot, and in five minutes' time it seemed as though there must be fully five hundred congregated about.
The noise they made was not so very loud, but it was mournful, and reminded Jack of the howling of a dog.
"What do you suppose they are making that awful noise for?" whispered Joe, resting from his gnawing task for a moment.
"I don't know," returned Jack, in his restless way, "unless they are singing our funeral hymn."