The thought of the small guide gave him a new idea.
"I'll go back to our camp, if it takes all night," he said, resolutely, turning his face in the direction he believed it was located. "We can come down in the boat and find out whether they stopped on one of the islands."
Now he walked rapidly, in order to cover as much ground as possible before it grew so dark as to shut out surrounding objects from view.
Weary as he was, and owing to the broken ground, his progress was exceedingly slow, and night had fully shut her black curtain down before he reached the edge of the lake.
Then he was forced to proceed at a snail's pace, lest he inadvertantly walked into one of the small streams; but he continued manfully on until it was no longer possible to take another step.
Now came the alarming knowledge that he was lost.
Had he been going in the right direction he should have reached the lake before sunset, and it could not then be less than nine o'clock.
He was no longer able to find the stream which had served him as guide, and stretched himself on the ground at the foot of a gigantic tree feeling as if it made but little difference whether he ever arose again or not.
In utter despair he remained silent and motionless until slumber came to his relief, and he remained wrapped in blissful unconsciousness for several hours.
When he awoke it was yet dark, and he was benumbed with the chill which came from the damp earth.