“If Old Miquel should come to, he might get rough,” Brad warned in parting. “Don’t take chances. If he makes trouble, just get out of the cave as fast as you can.”
“Sure,” Dan promised. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be okay. Just get to camp as fast as you can and tell Mr. Hatfield what happened.”
With reluctance, Red and Brad started off through the tunnel, not at all sure that they were doing right in leaving Dan behind. But then, they had no choice. Old Miquel must have medical attention at once, or he might never recover.
At the mouth of the cave, the two Cubs halted briefly to take bearings. White Nose and Eagle Feather had vanished. The sun was well up in the sky, indicating that the hour was even later than they had anticipated.
“Gosh, I’ll bet the pow-wow has started!” Red exclaimed. “We’ve got to get back fast.”
Brad edged around the ledge to the beach. He was starting off the way they had come when Red halted him with a suggestion.
“I know a shorter way,” he insisted. “It’s through the woods, and hard going for a short distance. But we can cut off at least twenty minutes.”
“You’re sure of the trail?” Brad asked dubiously.
“It isn’t marked, but I know this section. Besides, one can’t get lost in the park.”
“Don’t you believe it!” Brad replied. “Maybe not permanently lost, but one could lose a lot of time wandering around looking for a main road or a marked path.”