"There is no saying, George; only I advise you not to make too many experiments in the darkness. Several hours have passed since night came, and we are not making much progress toward the fort."
"You are quite right," was the nervous response, "but safety seemed to demand it. How are you standing it, Dot?"
The child made no answer.
"She is asleep," whispered the mother.
"I hope that it may last until morning. If you are tired of holding her in your arms I will take her."
"When I grow weary of that," was the significant reply of the wife, "I will let you know."
Inasmuch as the continually obtruding stream must be crossed, and the precious hours were fast passing, the rancher gave every energy to surmounting the difficulty.
As he led the way once more to the edge of the water, he asked himself whether the wisest course was not to construct a raft. The work promised to be so difficult, however, that he would have abandoned the thought had he not come upon a heavy log, lying half submerged at the very spot where he struck the water.
"This will be of great help," he said to his wife.
Leaning his Winchester against the nearest tree, he drew out his rubber safe and struck a match. The appearance of the log was encouraging, and after some lifting and tugging he succeeded in rolling it into the stream.