A HURRIED DEPARTURE.
Neal and Teddy were in a state of the most painful suspense from the moment Poyor returned until the time for their departure arrived.
The one hope was that Jake would succeed in finding his way back, for the thought that he might be captured was terrible, and they sat near the entrance listening intently to every sound.
"You're bound to be disappointed if you count on hearing him," Cummings said bitterly.
"But there is a chance that the Indians are some distance from here," Teddy replied. "Poyor didn't find any until he reached the line of sentinels."
"I am not saying that he is necessarily captured yet; but it would be little short of a miracle if he found his way back after going any distance from this cave. I wouldn't dare to make the attempt."
"But are we to go away without trying to find the poor fellow?" Neal asked in a tone of distress.
"It would be useless to search, and we are now in too much danger to waste any time," Cummings said sternly. "Our one chance of escape was to give the enemy the idea that we had succeeded in getting out of the country, and he has destroyed it. Now this portion of the forest will be filled with Indians, and in twenty-four hours from the moment he or his trail is seen, we shall be discovered. We cannot aid him, and I doubt whether I would be willing to do so if it was possible, for a man of average common sense who will act as he has done deserves punishment."
The boys made no reply. Each instant their companion's anger against Jake increased, and it was not well to rouse him by further conversation.
Near the bank of the stream Poyor had built a fire and was cooking a portion of the tapir and the fish, for in the hurried flight which was soon to be begun there might not be an opportunity to prepare food.