Echo, the eagle, had been sent away in advance to keep his wary watch for danger before, while Ebony and Flick were sent out on either side to watch out for any enemies that might be disposed to attack them.
Their progress was slow and tedious, and it was not until the end of the third day that they reached the little glade wherein Wayland Sanford had been buried.
The young sportsmen found the grave as they had left it, though the bodies of the savages were gone.
That night the party encamped in the glade by the grave.
After supper had been prepared and eaten, and while the party sat around the camp-fire conversing, the subject of the Aërial Demon came up.
After each one had given his opinions and views on the subject, the ranger started to his feet, saying:
“Indeed, I have been neglecting our safety. I will go out into the forest and reconnoiter the immediate vicinity for lurking danger, then we must station guards for the night,” and as he concluded, he stooped and whispered something to Florence and Silvia, then turned, and calling his eagle, that had perched itself in a tree-top, walked away into the forest, though none but the women noticed that he took his capacious saddle-bags with him.
In about ten minutes he returned.
“Any signs ob danger, capt’ing?” asked Ebony.
“None whatever,” returned the captain; “but, where can Echo be?” and, as he concluded, he placed the horn to his lips and blew a blast that echoed far away through the hills.