“If we keep up this good time, we’ll surely see the boats today—if they’re there to see,” said Bob, as he led the way up the trail.
Notwithstanding this, they hiked on constantly for the remainder of the afternoon without coming to the explorers’ boats.
“Perhaps if we fire rifle shots it will attract their attention,” said Joe, and he sent out three shots, repeating at intervals.
“What’s that?” said Joe, raising a hand for silence.
“Thought I heard an answering report,” he said. “But maybe—— Yes, there it is again. And there.”
Two shots had sounded from afar, and at once the boys responded with Joe’s rifle.
“Now let’s move on upstream,” said Bob. “If we can meet them halfway it will be all the better.”
The youths again followed the trail, the Indian chief close behind them. They realized that the answering reports had come from afar and that it would take no little hiking to get to them.
About every five minutes Joe raised the rifle and fired, each time receiving an answering shot.