I came near to crying out that he should think only of himself, leaving us to such fate as might be in store, so eager was I that he cease efforts which seemed to promise only danger for himself, without a chance that we might be benefited, and then was shown me how foolish is he who would try to change, by even so much as a hair’s-breadth, the course of events.
The soldiers were not so foolish as to run at his summons; but halted where, by advancing a single pace, the search would have been ended, and began to parley with him.
“What have you found?” one asked, and the lad replied:—
“Only what appears to be a trail, but it leads toward the water.”
I heard one of the men propose that they go back to investigate the matter; but a second called attention to the fact that they had been ordered to make certain no one was concealed within the line marked out, and with this difference of opinion came a parley which finally resulted in the saving of our lives.
The soldiers argued one with another, in the meanwhile moving nearer the point from which Leon was calling, and each second of time seemed to lessen our peril.
“Now has come the moment when we must make a move of some kind!” Alec said, clutching me by the arm fiercely to be certain I gave due weight to his words. “Leon can delay them only a few moments, and once they return to the search we are lost! It is better to make a venturesome move than be caught here like rats in a trap.”
“But how can we benefit ourselves?” I asked stupidly. “It will be only an exchange of hiding-places, for there is no possibility of our leaving the shore in the daytime.”
“That remains to be proven. It is almost certain death to stay here, and can be no worse to make a bold dash.”
While speaking he literally pulled me to my feet, and as I stood near the entrance to the shallow cave only partially hidden by the bushes, I heard Leon cry:—