“Well, if we hang around here much longer we’ll be having the entire supply of grub shoved on us,” laughed Jack, quite amused by Steve’s generosity; “so I guess we’d better say goodbye, and clear out while the going is good. Take care of yourself, Steve, and have as easy a time as you can. You’ll get your chance to navigate after we come back again, and must try the fishing with Toby here for a starter.”
“So-long, fellows, and the best of luck go with you!” called out Steve, as they launched upon their journey, Toby with a stout staff, and Jack having his camera dangling over his shoulder by the strap.
He stood there watching them plunge into the depths of the woods. Every time one of them glanced back Steve would wave his hat to show that he still watched. There was a trace of regret in his manner, though he had bravely tried to hide it from Jack’s observing eye. Of course Steve hated to see them go away to stay so long; it would be mighty lonely in camp all by himself; and the coming of night could not be expected to give him a great amount of cheer.
But then Steve was a sensible chap, capable of making the best of a bad bargain. He would find plenty to do to amuse himself; and as a last resort 149 he had that entertaining volume, only one-quarter read up to now, upon which he could depend to make the time pass. So after they had vanished from his vision Steve turned around and proceeded to clean up the breakfast things for a starter.
150CHAPTER XVIII
INSIDE THE ENEMY’S LINES
Jack and Toby pushed on through the woods. Having been over the course much of the way before, going and returning, they would find it much easier than if everything was strange to them.
“No use trying to see our trail, is there, Jack?” the other had remarked after they were fairly started on their way.
“Well, it would have to be a pretty deep lot of tracks that would not be washed out in all that downpour of steady rain,” Jack advised him. “But then there are scores of other things by means of which we’ll be able to know we are going over about the same route as before. For instance, you remember seeing that stone yonder, that seems to be so neatly balanced on another larger one, just as if human hands had placed it there?”
“Why, of course I do, and we even stopped to look at it closer,” replied Toby. “I called it Saddle Rock, because the top does resemble a saddle a whole lot. Yes, and I shall be on the lookout for that remarkable looking tree that made us think of a camel’s hump, it was so curved. It wasn’t a great way beyond these same rocks, if I’m not off my bearings.”