"I left them at the edge of the forest. Knowing how we are armed they do not dare to follow very close; but when the sun rises a hundred will be at our heels."
"Shall we go on now, or will you rest awhile?"
"I am ready. We have no time to lose."
Cummings rose to his feet, the others following his example, and the Indian started forward without delay.
"How far are we from the sea-shore?" Cummings asked as the march began.
"More miles than we shall travel for many days. By sunrise every sentinel will know we are here, and it will be impossible to break through their lines."
"Then how are we to get home?" Teddy asked in alarm.
"He probably hopes to find some place where we can stay in hiding for awhile. In this section of the country there are many large caverns in which streams of water are invariably found, thus causing the belief that a subterranean river flows from the valley to the sea. If we stop at one of them until it is decided we have succeeded in escaping, you will not be able to take the steamer as intended."
"But we may have to stay two or three weeks."
"Better that than to be captured," Cummings replied, and then he relapsed into silence.