When the two Indians had finished their conversation, the talker made a proposition to Chap. He told him that he and his companion, with two others, who were now probably a mile or two away, had come into this part of the country on a hunting expedition; but that, if he would pay them for their trouble, they would go after these fellows and capture the boat.
“River bends ’round here,” said the talker, waving his hand behind him, “and they got to sail that way. ’Fraid to keep on big river. You get boat, go after ’em. We go straight through woods, and ketch ’em when they go camp at night. Then bring boat back to you.”
Chap stood and considered the matter, and a brilliant plan soon entered his head. If he went back to confer with his companions, a great deal of time would be lost, and there might be diversities of opinion as to what should be done. He felt that the proper thing to do was to follow the Indian’s advice, and go a short way through the woods and intercept the fellows when they camped.
They were certain to come on shore to cook their evening meal, and these Indians seemed to know the very spot where they would be likely to land.
“Now,” thought Chap, “I’ve a great mind to put myself at the head of these Indians and recapture The Rolling Stone. Instead of going and telling the other fellows that I’ve lost the boat, I’ll bring it back to them. They’re bound to wait for me, and they can find quarters in that house that Adam went to.”
Chap thereupon told the Indians that if they and their companions would assist him in recapturing the boat, he would see that they were paid for their time and trouble. He also made them understand that he would lead the expedition, provided that they would show him the way.
To all this the Indians assented, exhibiting a willingness to leave the amount of their remuneration entirely to Chap’s generosity, and while one of them started off to find his absent companions, the other set about preparing for Chap a portion of the food that was cooking on the fire, for our friend declared himself nearly famished.
“Isn’t this a high old change in things?” said Chap to himself, as he sat watching the Indian stirring the unknown mess in the blackened vessel he had taken from the fire. “Just a little while ago I was hanging about home, expecting to hear that school would begin next day, and here I am, in the wilds of Florida, and about to lead a band of red men through the trackless forest.”
Phil and Phœnix wandered for a good distance along the woodland path. Except the birds which they saw flying about above the forest when they occasionally came to an open place in the green roof over them, they found nothing to shoot at.