“Never mind,” said Morgan. “It isn’t what we are looking for. Go on, Han; we must find that boy, and escape for our lives.”
The great black nodded and started off at once, Morgan and I going to right and left of him, and we searched through the great trees, working away round the opening cleared from the forest for our house, but though the sound continued, we could find no trace of the cause nor yet of the poor boy, who had dropped completely out of sight.
My heart sank as I felt sure that the Indians must have surprised him, and moment by moment, as we started again into the forest, making now toward the rattlesnake clearing and the path leading to the landing-place, I expected to come upon him lying dead where he had been struck down.
But we examined the place again and again in every direction without success, and we were neither of us sufficiently skilled to attempt in the gloom beneath the trees to find him by his tracks.
The sound had nearly ceased now, only occurring faintly at intervals, and still it was as confusing as ever, for we could not make out whence it came.
At last we stopped at the edge of the rattlesnake clearing, near where the path struck out leading to the water-side.
“What are we to do, Master George?” said Morgan. “I want to find that boy, and at any moment we may be attacked by enemies, and it seems to be our duty to get down to the boat, row back as fast as we can, and give warning that the Indians are still near at hand.”
“Yes, go,” said Hannibal, who had been listening intently to Morgan’s words. “Boat. Injum. Han ’top find um boy.”
Morgan looked at me, but I shook my head.
“No,” I said; “we will not go—we cannot, and leave him here. Will you come, Hannibal?”