"I'm going to have a fire," said Dave, half desperately. "I'm not going to sit in this darkness, Indians or no Indians."
"An' I'm with ye," returned Barringford, and without delay they kindled a fair-sized camp-fire, over which they prepared a well-earned meal. Firewood was to be had in plenty and they heaped it on recklessly, although the forest, as a whole, was so damp that a general conflagration was impossible.
"I suppose we'll have to stay here all night," said Dave, when the meal, leisurely eaten, was finished.
"Don't see no way out on't lad. The rest will do us good."
"Don't you think we made a mistake by going down so deep into this hollow?"
"Perhaps, lad—but it wasn't no mistake to git away from them redskins."
All was made safe around the camp-fire and not long after this they went to sleep. Nothing came during the night to disturb them, and both slumbered on until the sun was showing above the tree-tops.
Dave was the first to stir, but scarcely had he gotten up than Barringford followed. The smoldering fire was coaxed up, and they procured such a breakfast as their scanty store permitted.
"What do you say to climbing a tall tree and looking around?" said Dave.
"I was goin' to suggest that same, Dave."