Throughout the night, the Explorers again took turns watching Mr. Livingston and Pedro. For the most part, both slept, and required little attention.
Another day passed, a monotonous repetition of the previous one. Mr. Livingston improved steadily, suffering only a few minor relapses during which his fever mounted.
“I’m well on the way to recovery, thanks to that herb tea or whatever it was,” he told the Scouts. “How to get out of here is our next problem. The natives aren’t unfriendly. If we bide our time, they may release us.”
“Ino’s working for us,” Jack insisted. “Even though we haven’t seen him, you can tell by the way we’re treated now, that we’re not distrusted as we were.”
During the early part of the night, he took his turn watching Mr. Livingston, and then tried to sleep after Ken had relieved him. Toward morning, he was aroused, and discovered his friend bending over him.
“Get up, Jack! Our guard has gone!”
“What?” Jack came fully awake. “Are you sure?”
“Not a sign of him. The entire village seems deserted. The warriors have gone off somewhere.”
Getting to his feet, Jack awakened Willie and War. Excitedly, they studied the possibilities of their situation.
“This is our chance to escape,” Ken declared, “but it may be a trap.”