When the men got ready to turn in for the night, one or the other might take a fancy to have a look around to make sure they had no unwelcome visitors, in which case the spies would be discovered.
Motioning Jim to follow his example, he started toward the shore, moving at a snail's pace to prevent a noisy disturbance among the foliage, and not until they were in the boat once more paddling toward the opposite bank did he feel at liberty to draw a long breath.
Arriving at the point from which they started, Jim insisted on carrying the boat to the clump of cedars, and this required so much time and labor that it was nearly midnight before they could seek the well-earned rest.
Even then Jet took pity on the prisoner, and removed the gag sufficiently long to give him food and water, the small guide standing over him with the cocked revolver, lest he should make an outcry.
"What are you boys countin' on doin' with me?" he asked, when his hunger and thirst had been appeased.
"Deliver you to the officers in a day or two."
"Am I to be kept trussed up in this fashion until then?"
"It's pretty rough, I know; but there's no other way out of it. You'd treat us the same or worse if the tables were turned, and we're bound to take care of ourselves."
"I don't reckon it would do any good if I was to swear I wouldn't so much as yip?"
"Not a bit, for we shouldn't dare run the risk you would break your word."