Five minutes later they were checked just on the other side by another Indian who started up right in their path.
“Come and warn my father,” said Perry excitedly. “They’re going to attack us.”
“No; I think not,” replied Cyril decisively. “They’re sentries. Come and try another way.”
He led off again, after they had returned to the fire, finding that they were not followed, and that all was still; and again they were stopped by an Indian starting up and ordering them back.
“That’s it,” said Cyril quietly; “they’ve surrounded us with sentries.”
“To attack us?”
“No; to see that we don’t escape; and while we were walking round and round, they were within a few yards of us, listening to all our movements.”
“But they couldn’t have been there then, or they would have started up as they did just now.”
“No; we weren’t doing anything they minded; but as soon as we tried to go straight away, they stopped us. Let’s try once more.”
He led off quickly again, with the same result; and then Perry turned back to where his father lay asleep.