He waited impatiently, but neither Agnes nor Fred returned.
Overcome with fear, he knelt down in prayer, for he was a very pious boy.
"Good Lord," he prayed, "help Fred and Agnes and me, and let us not perish in this wilderness. Show us a way to escape out of this trouble that we may praise Thy glorious name. Help us for Jesus' sake."
Then as the dreary hours passed slowly and monotonously, his strength gave way, and he soon was fast asleep.
CHAPTER X
CAPTURE AND ESCAPE
How long Matthew slept, he could not tell, but suddenly he was awake, and some one was holding his hand over his mouth.
In the darkness the form seemed large and grotesque, and his first impulse was to cast aside the hand and to cry out.
But then he heard a soft voice spoken almost in a whisper, and he recognized Fred.
"Matthew," Fred whispered, "come to yourself; awake, and sit up. I have something to tell you. Where is Agnes?"