"I don't think," he continued, "that I can walk any farther today. I feel shaken all over."
"Then we will camp where we are," Tom said cheerfully. "We have got a stag, and he will last us for some days, if necessary. There is plenty of fruit to be picked in the forest, and on this mountain side we are sure to be able to find water, within a short distance."
Lighting a fire, the deer was soon cut up, and the lads prepared to spend a quiet day; which was all the more welcome inasmuch as, for the last three weeks, they had traveled without intermission. The next day Ned declared himself well enough to proceed on his journey; but his friend persuaded him to stop for another day.
Late in the evening Ned exclaimed, "What is that, Tom, behind that tree?"
Tom seized his bow, and leaped to his feet.
"I see nothing," he said.
"It was either a native, or a gigantic monkey. I saw him, quite plainly, glide along behind the tree."
Tom advanced cautiously, but on reaching the tree he found nothing.
"You are sure you were not mistaken?" he asked.
"Quite certain," Ned said. "We have seen enough of Indians, by this time, to know them. We must be on the lookout, tonight. The natives on this side are not like those beyond the mountains. They have been so horribly ill treated, by the Spaniards, that they must hate any white face; and would kill us without hesitation, if they got a chance. We shall have difficulty with the Spaniards, when we fall into their hands; but they will at least be more reasonable than these savages."