Every little while he would check their course by the little compass, to see which he often had to light one of their few precious matches.
"One thing surre, we won't meet anybody up herre," said Archer, as he scrambled along. "See those little lights over to the east?"
"Don't worry," said Tom, "that's twenty miles away. We're all right up here. There were some lights further down too and one over that way but I can't see them now. I guess it's after midnight. Sh-h-h. Listen!"
They stood stark still, Archer gripping Tom's arm.
"It's water trickling," said Tom dully.
"Gee, you had the life scared out of me!" breathed Archer.
A little farther on they came to an abrupt, rocky declivity which crossed their course and in the bottom of which was a swift running stream.
"It's running east," said Tom, listening intently. "I can tell by the ripples."
"Yes, you can!" said Archer contemptuously.
"Sure I can," Tom answered. He held his hand first to his right ear, then to his left. "The long, washy sound comes first when you close your left ear, so I know the water's flowing that way. It's easy," he added.