The effect was magical. They were silent on the instant, but we passed the rest of that day in agony.
“I’m glad that we decided to go to-night,” the doctor said. “Whoever it was that passed must have heard us, and we shall have the savages here to-morrow to see what it meant.”
The night seemed as if it would never come, but at last the sun went down, and in a very short time it was dark.
Our plans were to go as near as we dared to the village as soon as darkness set in, place our men, and then watch till the savages seemed to be asleep, and then, by Jimmy’s help, seek out my father’s prison, bring him away to the cave, and there rest for a day or two, perhaps for several, as I have said. But the events of the day had made us doubtful of the safety of our refuge; and, after talking the matter over with the doctor, we both came to the conclusion that we would leave the latter part of our plan to take care of itself.
“First catch your hare, Joe!” said the doctor finally. “And look here, my lad; I begin to feel confident now that this prisoner is your father. We must get him away. It is not a case of try! We must, I say; and if anything happens to me—”
“Happens to you!” I said aghast.
“Well; I may be captured in his place!” he said smiling. “If I am, don’t wait, don’t spare a moment, but get off with your prize. I don’t suppose they will do more than imprison me. I am a doctor, and perhaps I can find some favour with them.”
“Don’t talk like that, doctor!” I said, grasping his hand. “We must hold together.”
“We must release your father!” he said sternly. “There, that will do.”